Volunteer Spotlight: Biomedical Transportation Specialists

By: Nicole Roschella

After generous donors give blood or platelets to the American Red Cross, there are a few more steps before a patient can receive that lifesaving gift. Right now, the Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region is looking for volunteers to safely transport blood from collection sites to the lab for processing and to deliver blood products to hospitals.

Mark Seitz is a retired pharmaceutical representative who lives in Johnstown. In the summer, you can find him on the golf course. But in the winter, he spends his extra time volunteering with the Red Cross as a Biomedical Transportation Specialist, delivering blood to hospitals in Altoona, Indiana and Morgantown.

“It gets me out of bed and gives me somewhere to go,” Seitz said. “People need blood all the time. I hear stories of different patients who go through dozens of pints of blood. It feels good to be able to help with that.”

Seitz enjoys driving by himself and appreciates the flexibility of the job. Right now, he is driving about three routes each week.

“You go online and sign up for whatever route you want, and it usually shows you what time you’re going to be done,” Seitz said. For example, the Altoona route includes stops at four hospitals. It normally starts at 10 a.m. and Seitz is back in Johnstown around 2 p.m.

“I’m in and out of the hospital’s blood center in less than five or 10 minutes and I’m off to my next stop,” Seitz said. “Everything is so pre-planned and pre-organized.”

Elizabeth Altman and her husband Charles live in Pittsburgh and work as a team of Biomedical Transport Specialists. They sign up for at least two shifts a month.

“We’ve gone as far west as State College, as far east as Huntingdon, New Castle to the north and Uniontown to the south,” Altman said. “It gives us a chance to get out of the house and to see countryside we would never see otherwise. It’s like a little day trip with a purpose. We often find these interesting restaurants to eat dinner at along the way!”

Altman said she used to donate blood regularly, but as she aged, this volunteer opportunity better suited her.

“I’m actually kind of a loner so that’s part of the reason I like this job. I’m not dealing with a whole lot of people,” Altman said. “I’m not big on group activities so this is a great job for me.”

If you're interested in joining the Red Cross as a volunteer and bringing help and hope to people in need, visit redcross.org/volunteer.