Thirty for Thirty: Land Rover funds extra emergency response bikes for British Red Cross

Even more British Red Cross first-aiders will be geared up for emergencies, thanks to Land Rover UK, who donated four extra cycle response units (CRUs) this week.

Two of the brand new bikes will be based in South Wales and will be the first of their kind in
Wales. The new additions bring the total CRUs donated by Land Rover UK up to a fleet of 30, along with 30 UK-based donated vehicles, a mixture of Defender, Discovery and Freelander models.

The bikes are part of Land Rover's three year global initiative of 'Reaching Vulnerable People Around the World', launched in August 2010. They have been helping to strengthen the ability of the Red Cross to respond to emergencies and people in need of assistance.

Developed together with 2x2, Land Rover’s bicycle manufacturer, the bikes will work in pairs and in tandem with a Land Rover vehicle, as a mobile medical unit. Each CRU is fully equipped with a defibrillator, advanced first aid kit and resuscitation equipment, enabling first-aiders to respond to incidents swiftly.

British Red Cross first aiders will now be able to effectively navigate through urban and crowded areas, reaching people faster in times of emergency with life-saving care. Since their launch, the CRUs have already been operational at major UK events such as; the Great North Run, Essex Country Show and even attended an on-site emergency at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, within 24hours of being rolled out nationwide.

Laura Schwab, Marketing Director for Land Rover UK said, "We are extremely proud to be contributing to the vital work of the British Red Cross. It's absolutely fantastic to see the Cycle Response Units (CRUs) reach that magic number of 30."

"The cycle response units fit perfectly with our 30 previously donated all-terrain vehicles, forming a mobile medical unit, especially in areas where access is limited. Well done to all those UK dealers who raised money to fund the units," further added.

Richard Hankins, Head of Event First Aid for the British Red Cross said, "Our 30-strong fleet of cycle response units will now enable us to respond at even more events, ensuring that we reach more people in need of critical care. In an emergency, every second counts, and being able to cover all sorts of terrain and move through crowds swiftly could make the difference in medical crises such as cardiac arrest."

The collaboration between Land Rover UK and the British Red Cross is part of the major global partnership between Land Rover and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), announced in August 2010. It involves Land Rover supporting national Red Cross societies in 15 countries, with each country adopting a priority programme.

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