The American Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of our nation’s blood to hospitals where patients are in desperate need. Most of us are familiar with Red Cross blood drives, but the donation is just the beginning of the journey. Once it is tested and properly stored, we then have to deliver the donated blood, plasma or platelets to those who need it, when they need it. Our volunteer Biomedical Transportation Specialists provide this essential service.
Patients with serious medical conditions – including accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease – may all need blood or blood products at any time. Volunteer Biomedical Transportation Specialists answer the call: driving donations from blood drives to our labs, and from storage facilities to hospitals throughout the region.
Each shift is about 4 hours, and our volunteers embrace the opportunity. Some enjoy the quiet time behind the wheel. Others look forward to the welcome they receive when they bring their precious cargo to its destination. Those who volunteer as a Transportation Specialist should feel the glow of knowing they might have helped save a life that day.
We recently featured a group of our Northwest Biomed Transportation volunteers in a story titled “Biomed Road Warriors.” You can read more about their experience here.
Our region has several openings for volunteer Biomedical Transportation Specialists. The requirements include being a licensed driver with a clean driving record for at least 3 years. You also need to be able to lift boxes weighing up to 45 pounds. To view the complete job description and apply for this volunteer position: http://rdcrss.org/2h2Br1L
American Red Cross NW Region 