Boston health officials take to the silver screen to recruit volunteers

By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff

Lights! Camera! Band-aids?

The Boston Public Health Commission is taking to the big, and small, screen with an unusual pitch for volunteers for the Boston Medical Reserve Corps.

The reserves are called upon to help the city during public health emergencies and large special events such as the Fourth of July and the Boston Marathon.

The new minute-long public service commercial, set against a pulsing beat, features a large Band-aid that is dashed and roller-bladed across city streets, over choppy seas, and even airlifted by a medical helicopter to be delivered by volunteers to a patient who receives a flu shot.

The light-hearted spot, with cameo appearances by the Boston Police Department, Boston EMS, and Boston MedFlight, will run at the AMC Boston Common 19 and the Regal Fenway 13 through March 8, and on local broadcast and cable channels.

It’s also on You Tube.

Medical Reserve volunteers often are used at the marathon to help the sea of runners who seek medical attention be reunited with their families, said Laura Harwood, program manager for the reserve corps.

They also help register patients at flu clinics in the city.

No medical training is needed, Harwood said.

“We are looking for a wide variety of backgrounds, someone who is great with computers, or great talking to people and giving directions,” she said. “We are also always looking for translators.”

The reserve corps counts about 700 volunteers, she said, but is always looking for more help to ensure that help is available at all times.

To learn more about volunteering or to sign up, visit www.BostonMRC.org