Hundreds of new life-saving bleed control kits are to be distributed across the West Midlands thanks to the Police and Crime Commissioner.
PCC Simon Foster is buying more than 400 specialist first aid kits that will be put in place across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
It follows a previous 400 that were installed across the region four years ago in 2020, with venues such as shopping centres, supermarkets, pubs, schools, youth centres and fast-food restaurants set to have their bleed control kits upgraded.
The medical supply packs, which include bandages, tourniquets and gloves, are designed to be easy to use and to keep an injured person alive, until they can receive treatment from a paramedic or doctor.
On average it takes an ambulance eight minutes to reach a patient – but bleeding from serious injuries, such as those suffered in a stabbing, shooting, car or industrial accident can prove fatal in as little as three minutes. A bleed control kit can save lives, so treatment can begin before paramedics arrive.
The new roll-out of the kits follows committed, devoted and passionate campaigning from Lynne Baird MBE. Lynne tragically lost her son Daniel in July 2017, aged just 26, after he was stabbed to death in Birmingham.
In 2019, she set up the Daniel Baird Foundation, which campaigns for bleed control kits to be placed in locations that are easily accessible to the public.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “My pledge to roll-out over 400 new bleed control kits across the West Midlands can, and will, save lives.
“My top priority is to prevent, tackle and reduce violence but, if someone sustains a wound, either by accident or, worse, because they are stabbed, getting urgent treatment to stop the bleed as quickly as possible is essential.
“The bleed control kits have been approved by the National Trauma Network and West Midlands Ambulance Service, specifically for public use in an emergency to control a catastrophic bleed.
“These kits, which include specialist dressings, gloves and a tourniquet, are a simple but clever idea that provide users with the equipment and instructions needed to save a life.”
Dr Lynne Baird MBE, lead for The Daniel Baird Foundation, said: “When my son was stabbed, there wasn’t a first aid kit nearby to stop the bleed. Had there been, then Daniel might still be with us today.
“Having these kits right across the West Midlands can save lives. Nobody should have to lose their children.
“When someone is stabbed, getting treatment to stop the bleed as quickly as possible is paramount. These kits help to control the bleed and buy time for the ambulance to arrive.”
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