Medics on motorbikes rev up

St John Media Release September 2008

St John Ambulance is reactivating its motorcycle unit in Auckland this month (September).

A brand-new Honda ST1300 will take pride of place in the fleet of three medically-equipped motorbikes, two of them older.

The bike is known as the “police special” because Honda manufactures the range with special electrical switching to cater to emergency services needs.

But as well as fitting lights and sirens, St John mechanics have modified the bike to bear the weight of a “top box” containing a life-saving defibrillator. Standard side panniers hold other medical equipment.

Provision has also been made for support gear for communications.

Other extras include a small touch-sensitive screen for satellite navigation, a communications radio and mobile data terminal fitted near the handlebars.

St John motorbike medics wear helmets that can plug into a port on the bike for receiving radio communications from the Emergency Ambulance Communications Centre.

You might think that all the extras would bog the bike down.

Not so, says St John Advanced Paramedic Simon Gibb.

“It’s a really balanced ride with superior handling. This is a great way to get paramedics to an emergency without delay.”

He says the bikes will be used for special events with high density traffic situations, known vehicle and or pedestrian times of heavy congestion and general rapid response duties as applicable.

St John, a community based charity, is grateful for assistance from business and community groups to launch the new medical motorbike:

• The Lion Foundation granted $30,000 toward the bike.
• The Lewisham Foundation gave $5000 for the life-saving defibrillator that will be carried on board.
• The Rotary Club of Drury raised $9,000 toward four specialised helmets with in-helmet communications and emergency service-related fit-outs.

St John provides ambulance services for approximately 85% of New Zealand's population. In 2008, St John has just over 700 paid ambulance officers and more than 2,700 volunteer ambulance officers care for and save the lives of thousands of New Zealanders and visitors to the country.

Click here to Return