Six lifesaving Bleed Control Kits have been installed in Stoke-on-Trent to provide vital aid to patients suffering with catastrophic bleeding before an ambulance crew arrives.
The kits contain a tourniquet and other trauma dressings and are vital to help save the lives of patients who suffer major trauma with catastrophic bleeding, whether caused by an accident or assault.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) joined community group ‘Chit Chat 4 U’ last night (Tuesday) at Floral Hall in Tunstall Park to launch six Bleed Control Kits within the local area.
The Trust have provided six kits, funded by NHS Charities Together, which will go inside designated Bleed Control Kit cabinets which have been installed by Chit Chat 4 U who have fundraised for the provision of Bleed Control Kits in Stoke.
The kits have been placed at – Floral Hall, Victoria Park, Tunstall; Face of Stoke on Trent, the electrical substation building on Lichfield Street; Stoke Library, Church Street; Longton Town Hall, Times Square; Victoria Road, Fenton and Moorland Road, Burslem.
A number of kits can already be found in parts of the region thanks to the hard work of The Daniel Baird Foundation, which was set up after the son of Lynne Baird was fatally stabbed in Birmingham in 2017.
Working closely with the Foundation, WMAS helped develop the kits and now thanks to NHS Charities Together, more are being placed around the region.
Community Response Manager, Tim Cronin, who attended the launch event and demonstrated how the kits are used said:
“Bleed Control Kits can be used by anyone, to stem major bleeding which can’t be stemmed by normal first aid measures. This can buy vital minutes until the ambulance arrives.
“Having these available in the community and accessible to the public will hopefully mean more lives can be saved. They can be accessed by calling 999 where the call assessor will direct you to the nearest bleed kit location and provide you with the access details.
“It’s great to support Chit Chat 4 U who do a fantastic job volunteering their time carrying out knife sweeps in the parks and fundraising for the provision of kits to try and help make Stoke a safer place.”
Larissa Cooke from Chit Chat 4 U said:
“Our group has worked incredibly hard to get the Bleed Control Kits into Stoke-on-Trent. Knowing we have succeeded and knowing we could potentially save someone’s life is just amazing.”
Cllr Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City council said:
“These kits will help to save lives across the city, whether as a result of knife crime or accidental injury. I’d like to thank Chit Chat 4 U for working to bring these kits to Stoke-on-Trent as well as West Midlands Ambulance Service and NHS Charities Together for funding their purchase and installation.”
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said:
“These kits are a simple but clever idea which equips users with the equipment and instructions to potentially save a life. Chit Chat 4 U and West Midlands Ambulance Service have worked tirelessly to purchase these kits for the local community and I’m sure, if needed they will save lives.”
Find out where the kits are located
More information about the kits can be found at: http://www.controlthebleed.org.uk
