16 000 'BLOOD RUNS' A YEAR SAVE UK R3.6m A YEAR

+ Click to Enlarge NOT QUITE THE BIKING HEAVIES YOU MIGHT EXPECT: These guys are part of a "blood runners" group in southern England and, given their apparent ages, should be expert riders. Now, we ask, where are the ladies...?

December 23, 2009

Motorbike 'blood runners' who volunteer their services will be on call over the Christmas period to provide a little known-service that can help to save thousands of lives.

The service has been instituted in the UK to respond to around 2000 calls a year and save the country's state health service the equivalent of about R3.6-million a year.

Something South Africa's motorcycling clubs could look at, perhaps?

The UK riders work on a rota - one night in 14 - waiting to respond to emergency calls to collect and securely deliver life-saving blood, using an insulated, medically-approved bag.

Riders are on stand-by in many areas across the UK and the regions work together to ensure an efficient system to deliver blood as quickly as possible.

More than 16 000 "blood runs" have been made since the charity started in 1981 to provide a quicker, cost-effective way to deliver blood and avoid other services, such as ambulances, being employed.

If the blood needs to be delivered to a hospital in another county the main rider will to go to the blood bank while the office calls the duty co-ordinator of the county that covers the area in which the hospital is.

The co-ordinator then dispatches its duty rider from his/her home to a transfer point to await the arrival of the main rider. The riders always follow a set route to reduce any delays, in case of any breakdowns or other problems.

The demands on the charity increase every year and there is a need to spread the service across the country but it is restricted by its ability to fund and maintain the service, The volunteers are ready to back the service, so now the charity needs to work to secure the funding.

There is even a full service on standby over the whole of Christmas and New Year.

Spokesperson Sheila Rainger said: "Motorcycles have an important part to play in saving lives. As well as being used by the emergency services, these blood-runners provide an essential service free of charge and often with little recognition."

Dean Wickham, SERV Chairman added "Without our dedicated volunteers we would not be able to supply this much needed service. Every member is an asset to this charity and are worth their weight in gold"!!

Your motorcycle club might get more information from the SERV website.