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boxes’ temperature stability validated for use
on motorcycles. This entails the use of an
ome of the blood bike groups are independent professional test laboratory,
branching out in their service offering, with a which subjects the boxes under operational
number of them supporting their local air conditions (containing blood) to specific
ambulance trust by resupplying the helicopters temperature extremes in a wind tunnel, which
with blood every 24 hours (http://www.itv.com/ simulates being carried on a bike. We will also
undertake actual road tests using hi-tech
news/tyne-tees/2015-01-13/air-ambulance-
temperature data loggers within the transport
starts-life-saving-transfusions/)
boxes to monitor the effect of real on the road
conditions. The transporting of blood and blood
products is governed by European legislation, so
we need to undertake careful testing in order to
comply with the law.
evon Freewheelers are running a trial
with their local ambulance trust by having some
of their riders trained above the ‘normal’ first aid
level and have fitted some bikes with
lightweight defibrillators.
nother
example
of
national
negotiation that NABB is involved with, is the
‘Section 19’ (Blue Light) consultation with the
Government’s Department for Transport, which
relates to the road traffic legislation regarding
he task of rolling out the blood bike speed exemptions etc. Under the current
concept across the UK has almost run its course outdated legislation, dedicated blood bikes are
as we are now pretty much coast to coast, there permitted to fit and use blue warning beacons
are even groups in the Republic of Ireland based when they are used for the purposes of
on the UK model. Back in 2011, I had the transporting human tissue for transplant or
privilege of being involved with their first start similar purposes. However, they are not
up group, ‘Blood Bikes West’ in Galway and was permitted to exceed the speed limit, or treat red
invited to attend their launch ceremony traffic lights as give way signs etc. In short, the
alongside Charlie Boorman. Since then another current legislation is a bit of a chocolate teapot
4 groups have become operational in the and inconsistent with other front line servi ces.
Republic. In addition, we have had enquiries Since the public consultation on the potential
from as far afield as Australia, Goa, South Africa, extension of speed exemptions began 2 years
the USA and Canada. In fact, at the time of ago, NABB has been involved in several meetings
writing, National Geographic are in the process with the Department for Transport, culminating
of planning a news article and intend to send a recently in the approval of the Government to
film crew over from New York to shadow one of extend the full suite of traffic exemptions that
are used by Fire, Police and Ambulance
the riders on a ‘typical’ night shift.
authorities to blood bike activity. There will of
course be high quality training required, based
on the training that an ambulance paramedic
rider would be required to undertake. The
upshot of this is that later this year, the NABB
s NABB’s involvement in the UK rollout member groups will effectively be recognised as
project comes to a natural conclusion, we have an emergency service, on an equal footing with
been focussing on other aspects that need to be their traditional front line counterparts.
addressed at the national level. For example, the
NHSBT are rolling out a new type of blood
transport container and we are working in
collaboration with them to have these new
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