Visitors to the Iowa State Fair will have many more opportunities to help save lives as LifeServe Blood Center greatly expands its presence at the fairgrounds.
The Johnston-based LifeServe has hosted one-day blood drives at the fair before in 2023 and 2024. But for the first time, LifeServe will be present every day of the fair this year, which runs Aug. 7 to 17, and collect blood on nine of those days, said spokesperson Tim Paluch.
“There are few acts a human can do where they are guaranteed to leave the room knowing they just saved someone’s life, but this is one of them,” Paluch wrote in an email.
Paluch said the demand for blood goes up during the summer “trauma season” that sees more vehicle crashes, boating accidents, fireworks injuries and shootings.
Fewer people also donate blood during the summer given vacations and other priorities, so LifeServe increases its presence at community events to solicit walk-up donations.
“More than 60% of adults are eligible to give, but only 3% donate,” Paluch wrote.
LifeServe’s blood mobile bus will be parked east of Thrill Town and Gate 10, south of the Varied Industries Building. Hours of operation are:
Paluch added that anyone who gives blood or registers at the fair but is deferred for health reasons will get a free reusable straw.
LifeServe provides blood to more than 175 hospitals in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It has other metro donation sites in Ankeny, downtown Des Moines, Urbandale and West Des Moines. More information, including what blood types are critically needed, is available at lifeservebloodcenter.org.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: LifeServe expands its presence at the Iowa State Fair to all 11 days. How to donate blood:
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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