Appointments
Locations
Donor Portal
Each January, National Blood Donor Month recognizes the generous individuals who help ensure there is a safe and stable blood supply during one of the most critical times of the year. At ARUP Blood Services, we’re proud to honor donors like Dan Webb, whose enduring commitment to donating for almost three decades continues to make a lasting impact on patients across our community.
Dan has been donating blood since 1997, but he was inspired to do so long before that—watching his father give blood when he was young planted the seed early. As soon as he was eligible, Dan began donating at age 18 in Michigan, a practice he’s continued ever since.
After moving to Utah in 1997, Dan’s dedication to donating deepened when two of his colleagues were fighting cancer. Seeing their need firsthand inspired him to begin donating platelets, a critical resource for patients battling cancer, individuals recovering from traumatic injuries, and those undergoing complex medical treatments.
“I give because I can,” Dan said. “It just takes a little time.” He compared blood to a renewable resource, something our bodies naturally replace.
For Dan, donating blood is a simple and powerful way to give back. Over the years, he’s seen how blood donations directly support lifesaving care throughout Utah. At ARUP Blood Services, the sole provider of blood products to University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, all donations go to local patients in need.
“I know places like the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute would not be able to help people and families without the donations ARUP Blood Services supplies,” Dan shared. “Countless families are helped, including my own family and friends.”
At times, the impact of donating becomes deeply personal. Dan is often contacted when his blood type matches a patient in need, creating a direct connection between donor and recipient. “That’s a little extra incentive to give,” he said.
Dan’s consistent donations have influenced many around him. Through hosting regular workplace blood drives, his colleagues have joined him in donating and creating a culture of giving by example.
For those nervous about donating for the first time, Dan offers the following reassurance: “The staff is super. The snacks are good. The swag is fun.” A whole blood donation takes about 30 minutes and platelet donations take about 90 minutes, but there are movies available to help pass the time. “It’s a bit of discomfort for a lot of good,” he added.
In recognition of the dedication of its donors, ARUP Blood Services held a raffle for an AirMed helicopter flight, and Dan was the lucky random winner. The experience gave him a new appreciation for emergency medicine in Utah. During the tour, he learned that AirMed helicopters carry real blood onboard for remote and emergency situations.
As an outdoor enthusiast, Dan chose to fly around Mount Timpanogos, a first for both the pilot and EMTs. “It was a beautiful flight,” he recalled. Seeing the state from a new vantage point and learning about the lifesaving work AirMed performs was a powerful reminder of how one blood donation can support lifesaving care across the state.
During National Blood Donor Month, Dan hopes his story inspires others to take that first step to start donating. “Our bodies produce billions of blood cells, why not donate a few to help with someone’s medical procedure or save a life? It only takes a little time,” he said.
This January, ARUP Blood Services thanks donors like Dan Webb and encourages others to celebrate National Blood Donor Month by donating blood—it’s a renewable gift that saves lives every day. Schedule your appointment here.
