Blood Biking

[Casbar]

Which area do you live in Lucky? My advice is contact the membership secretary of your local Blood Bike Group via their website. He/she will be willing and able to answer all your questions and arrange an induction if you choose to proceed.

For my group. You need to have an advanced qual, IAM or ROSPA, be re-assessed every 3 years. We are expected to do 2 duties a month, but if away no issues, most of us do more, depends on work. You also have to do an induction and some route familiarisation. Plus a duty with a buddy. If you go to the NABB site, you should be able to find your local groups. There are also controller roles if you want to get involved and don't have any advanced qualms yet. Just do it, you will have a good time

[Lucky]

Thanks iRider & Casbar. I have ROSPA already and the regime doesn't seem at all unreasonable, so I'll contact my local group when I return (from Spain) to Yorkshire. Thanks again.

[Casbar]

Thanks iRider & Casbar. I have ROSPA already and the regime doesn't seem at all unreasonable, so I'll contact my local group when I return (from Spain) to Yorkshire. Thanks again.

At the end of the day, we are all volunteers  8)

[iRider]

Thanks iRider & Casbar. I have ROSPA already and the regime doesn't seem at all unreasonable, so I'll contact my local group when I return (from Spain) to Yorkshire. Thanks again.

If anything, it gets most riders out more than they would normally as it gives you a purpose. I found i could only go to the usual biker meeting points so often

[Levisp]

Do they do anything during the day or is it always at night ?

[iRider]

Do they do anything during the day or is it always at night ?

I'm assuming every group has its own demands, our group like many others has areas within the group. Each area meets th different needs of the Hospitals within their area. In my area in my group we cover every night and 24hrs Saturday and Sunday, providing both on-call cover and regular scheduled runs.

[Casbar]

We provide overnight - 7pm to 6am Mon - Fri. Bank holidays and weekends 24 hrs. We also have members who deliver Baby Milk during the days. But that is a separate roster

[elephant8869]

Freewheelers EVS in Somerset gas similar operational hours but 7pm to 7am and 24 hours Saturday Sunday and bank holidays. Most of our work is blood, microbiology and pathology samples. We regularly carry baby milk, patient notes,medication whole blood and blood products. We also supply two air ambulance charities with blood every evening. The charity is very busy and we're looking at day shifts and work with NHSBT and specialist medical treatments for a few hospitals. Blood biking is great but can be hard work with long hours and lots of jobs. Typically we do 20 to 25 jobs each bike over a weekend shift

[elephant8869]

Forgot to mention that being a blood bike rider also requires you take an active part in fundraising. We rely entirely on donations and without money we cannot operate

[Casbar]

Yes forgot to mention we also re-supply the air ambulance and do a lot of fund raising. Good thing is we do fundraising with our air ambulance which is based at Thruxton, so do get to see some good racing    Will be there for BSB in July, so if anyone is going come say hi!

[pugwash]

Hi Serv Surrey and South London. We are one of the busiest as we cover London hospitals but also the blood banks which most of the other regions get stock from. So we also do many hand overs with riders outside tha SSL area.


It's a great way to give something back and get out on your bike. I also use the car when weather restricts the use of bikes.

[guest3074]

I don't know where you get your legal advice from but you should look elsewhere. We are exempt from Red Lights and certain other road signs already. S19 of the RTA 2006 if it ever gets enacted will add speed limit exemption. As yet we have no idea what additional training that will add to our existing training package.

We are not exempt from red lights which is why you will also see other groups don't use them.

Sect 19 will cost about 2k in training apparently. I know Freewheelers EVS in Bristol apparently  also have to switch off Blues at traffic lights, we quite often RV with them. We in SERV Wessex also do not use Blues as the costs to insurance etc do not stack up.

And taken from Northumbria Blood Bikes.

At present, we are allowed to use blue lights to make others aware of our presence on the road, but
we  are  not  permitted  to  drive  through  a  light  on  red,  nor  to  exceed  70mph

[iRider]

We are not exempt from red lights which is why you will also see other groups don't use them.

You really should check your facts before going public. You are wrong on both counts but if your happy with your interpretation and understanding that's a matter for you.

[elephant8869]

You really should check your facts before going public. You are wrong on both counts but if your happy with your interpretation and understanding that's a matter for you.

IRider, very interested by your comment. Can you point me in the right direction for confirming the legal exemption to pass a red light, treating it as a stop and give way?  We don't currently pass red lights. Thanks

[iRider]

IRider, very interested by your comment. Can you point me in the right direction for confirming the legal exemption to pass a red light, treating it as a stop and give way?  We don't currently pass red lights. Thanks

If you get your training leader to liaise with NABB, they will give them the full details as to the legislation, authority and training involved.