July 9th 2015

Emergency Rider Volunteers
Alistair Borland

Alistair is Chair of "SERV OBN" (Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers, Oxon, Bucks, Berks and Northants) - your local "Blood Bikers".  This is a registered charity providing an out-of-hours rapid transport service to NHS establishments in our region, transporting blood and blood products overnight, at weekends and Bank Holidays. An interesting and informative presenter. 

Review of the evening

Alistair arrived on his bike, Margaret, named after the lady who initiated the charity after her husband had needed emergency blood one evening and all transport normally used was unavailable. One of his friends, a biker arranged to collect the blood and the idea was born in 1962.

 
Maisie tries out the bike! 

The charity, 8 bikes in this area and 117 riders is entirely funded by donations and sponsorship. The AA covers all the bikes and an insurance company also covers the riders free of charge. They together ride 6k miles per month and £3k a month operating costs. 

As well as Blood and blood products, human donor breast milk is also carried, and on occasion, drugs, surgical equipment and patients' notes. 

Blood has to reach its destination in 2 hours so a slick, organised service is vital. Sometimes a biker has to go outside his region but usually there is a rendezvous point where 2 riders meet and swap signed forms and their precious cargo.

All the bikes have GPS tracking and £1000 worth of communication equipment on their bike and in their helmet.

In extreme weather there is a 4x4 vehicle available but mostly, the bikes are used as they can weave in and out of traffic.

Their motto - One day we may have the ride of your life.

Competition - On your bike

There were only 5 entries but the winner was a photo of a "nuts and bolts' man made by a member's son, second a photo of a husband as a child on a bike and third a member with her friend when they were both cycling club members.