By Dana Maze, American Red Cross

Susan Hess works in the tourism industry and travels across San Diego County to ensure tour groups have a memorable experience in America’s Finest City. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her work came to a halt. That’s when she traded traveling to local attractions for driving lifesaving blood to local hospitals as an American Red Cross volunteer.

The Red Cross collects and distributes about 40% of our nation’s blood supply, but it takes teamwork to carry out this mission. Volunteer Blood Transportation Specialists like Susan have the crucial role of delivering lifesaving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, including ten San Diego hospitals. When blood, platelets or other blood products are delivered to a hospital, a patient is also delivered hope when they need it most.

This is a day in the life of Blood Transportation Specialist, Susan Hess.

6:30 a.m. - Shift check-in.

Susan arrives at the Red Cross Kearney Mesa Blood Donation Center and begins her volunteer shift by signing in and checking out a vehicle. Then she receives a list of hospitals that she needs to deliver blood to, creates a route and loads the precious cargo into her vehicle.

“When I come to the lab, I get my route and it’s paperwork that’ll show me all the different hospitals that I’ll be going to that day,” said Susan. “Then I will notice if there are any stat orders. If there is a stat delivery, then I will go there first and then go to the other hospitals that are on my route in the area.”

7:30 a.m. - Stat order delivery.

Susan’s first stop along her route is to deliver a stat order. Not all blood product needs can be planned, and sometimes hospitals require additional product support. Stat orders are processed and delivered to hospitals in one hour and are crucial deliveries as patients’ lives depend on the blood.

“Most of the time when I arrive at the hospital, they are really happy to see me. Sometimes they are waiting for a stat delivery which means they need it right away.”

8 a.m. - Blood delivery route continues.

Susan continues her route, visiting hospitals in Encinitas, La Jolla and Hillcrest. During Susan’s 4-hour shifts every week, she spends her time driving, listening to true crime podcasts, and reflecting on the impact her deliveries will have.

“One morning I was delivering on my route, and I saw an emergency helicopter flying to the trauma center, and it was landing on the local hospital where I was heading. And it made me really think like, who's getting this blood? Maybe they're getting the blood I'm bringing.”

8:15 a.m. – Hospital blood banks receive deliveries.

At each hospital, Susan unloads the boxes of blood and platelets from her vehicle and drops them off at the hospital blood bank. The blood bank signs off on her deliveries, and Susan picks up empty boxes to return to the Red Cross.

Susan has returned to her tourism job but enjoys her volunteer role so much that she continues to make time for it. She also encourages others to get involved. “It’s a great opportunity to give something back to your community,” said Susan. “It’s very rewarding. If you like driving, it’s a great opportunity to drive around and go to different hospitals. People are happy to see you, so I highly recommend it.”

11 a.m. - Shift ends.

After Susan drops off blood at the hospitals on her route, she returns to the Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center. She unloads the empty boxes, completes paperwork, and leaves, knowing she has made a difference in patients’ lives.

“It’s a great feeling. I think about the patients and who’s going to be receiving this blood. And I wonder, is it a trauma? Is it cancer? And I just really feel for them,” said Susan. “And then I also think about the donors. I think about the people who came and spent their time to donate. I just feel like it’s a great thing that I’m doing to help other people.”

Become a Blood Transportation Specialist

Transportation Specialists are asked to commit to at least two shifts per month and must have a valid state driver’s license and proof of insurance. Additional requirements are at least three years of driving experience, a clean driving record and the ability to lift up to 45 pounds. For more information or to apply to be a Transportation Specialist, visit redcross.org/volunteer.