Wanted – Blood brothers and sisters

It’s a sobering fact of life (and death) that were it not for several organisations which are solely funded by charitable donations, countless numbers of lives might not be saved.

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is probably the one that springs to mind first. But there are many others whose timely intervention also can make the difference between life and death.

SERV (Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers) might not ring a bell, but chances you’ve seen them more than once as they go about their business quite literally handling the lifeblood of the health service.

Part of a nationwide network, SERV Sussex rider volunteers take to the roads to deliver vital supplies such as blood when the Health Services own courier services cease operating during evenings and weekends. The service is provided free of charge to the NHS between the hours of 7pm and 6am, 365 days of the year. The bottom line is that SERV save health authorities ten of thousands of pounds that private couriers would typically charge to fulfil the same service.

Saving lives and saving money seems like a no brainer

It certainly makes you stop and think knowing that one NABB (National Association of Blood Bikes) member group alone made 2,500 deliveries, covering over 100,000 miles at a cost of around £25,000 – all of which was paid for by charitable donations.

If the NHS had used taxis for the same journeys it would have cost more than £120,000.

While the bikes and the riders are highly visible, they’re not are not ‘protected’ by the ‘blues and twos’ that emergency vehicles are equipped with, so driving within the law is an absolute necessity. The service is run primarily utilising the volunteer’s own vehicle, however, SERV also has a fleet of marked bikes and cars that are funded by charitable donations from the public, businesses and charitable trusts.

Saving lives while saving money seems like a no brainer and there are lots of ways people can help. Donations obviously are welcome but volunteer bikers are always needed too.

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a volunteer rider or simply how to make a donation just click here.