AED Responder Kit and Defibrillator located in public space.
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“In an emergency, every second counts”, Lynne Baird MBE, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, talks of the importance of quick life-saving actions by members of the public.
Catastrophic bleeds can occur from severe road accidents to fatal stabbings, as Bleed Control Kit’s #ZeroResponder campaign shows, “a person can ‘bleed out’ and die in around 3-5 minutes” from loss of blood.
More than 300 publicly accessible bleed control kits and cabinets have been purchased and installed across the City of London, offering first aid supplies.
But a statement with London Ambulance Services (LAS) has stated, that “dedicated bleed control kits are not essential for effective bleeding control,” adding that where kits are available, “specific training should be given.”
Bleed Control Kits in London
A statement from the London Ambulance Service, says, that the basics of bystander bleeding control involve simple, “easy-to-learn manoeuvres” and that applying “continuous direct pressure to the site of bleeding” is the most effective method.
They discourage locking lifesaving equipment, and address that they should be “easily accessible” and “not kept in locked cabinets”.
There are mixed messages seen with different Ambulance Services supplying various advice.
“You don’t need any specialist skills to use the kits and our emergency call takers can talk you through how to use them”.
South Central Ambulance Service
The City of London Police has distributed over 300 kits in pubs and bars since 2019, with Police Constable David Jarvis advocating “we want to show how lives can be saved by using everyday items, such as a tie or scarf, or by using the stop the bleed kits.”
Islington Council have also invested in installing four Bleed Control cabinets across four key community locations, as part of the ‘Safer Hillrise‘ campaign.
What is in a bleed control kit?
A typical Bleed Control Kit is a custom first aid kit containing, large dressings, Celox Gauze (designed for heavy bleeding), chest seals, tourniquet, disposable gloves, foil blanket, CPR face mask and marker pen.
These kits once purchased can be registered online, but Lynne Baird said more needs to be done by Ambulance services. Baird explains that this isn’t always common practice and that the Ambulance Service “need to be mandated” to register kits.
LAS has stated that it will direct 999 callers by providing “further directions to assist”, and if required supply the codes for Bleed Kit cabinets, but to “only use a tourniquet if you have been trained in their use”.
How do kits differ from cabinets?
Bleed Control Kits are smaller, and are a specialised first aid kit which can be located in public venues for an emergency.
Bleed control cabinets are often attached to buildings or found within stations, similar to defibrillators, and require a code to unlock from 999 emergency services.
Cabinet locations are accessible by guidance from emergency services as only a limited number of people are able to see their location through registering on the GoodSAM App.
Bleed Control Kit Foundation
Lynne Baird, from The Daniel Baird Foundation, explained how she “couldn’t understand why nothing was available for the public to use” regarding equipment for catastrophic bleeding accidents.
The foundation was set up in 2017 in memory of Lynne’s son Dan who was stabbed in July, by November they had set up the first Bleed Control Kit in the United Kingdom.
These kits were designed in collaboration with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and leading consultants from the Trauma Network.
The first UK-based kit was designed as previously they had been purchased from America, but did not reflect the UK’s medical design.
Lynne Baird discusses how training and awareness “needs to start at an early age”. The foundation provides videos and talks, regarding knife crime but also catastrophic bleeding from a wide range of incidents from workplace accidents to dog attacks.
The NHS emergency services state, that if in an emergency, call 999 and direct pressure to the area of bleeding.
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Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineBleed Kits: Ambulance Service’s concerns over public usage
Short HeadlineCampaigner 'Concerned' about the mixed guidance on Bleed Kits
StandfirstOver 300 Control Kits have been distributed in London, but there are concerns over the necessity for specialist public training.
“In an emergency, every second counts”, Lynne Baird MBE, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, talks of the importance of quick life-saving actions by members of the public.
Catastrophic bleeds can occur from severe road accidents to fatal stabbings, as Bleed Control Kit’s #ZeroResponder campaign shows, “a person can ‘bleed out’ and die in around 3-5 minutes” from loss of blood.
More than 300 publicly accessible bleed control kits and cabinets have been purchased and installed across the City of London, offering first aid supplies.
But a statement with London Ambulance Services (LAS) has stated, that “dedicated bleed control kits are not essential for effective bleeding control,” adding that where kits are available, “specific training should be given.”
Bleed Control Kits in London
A statement from the London Ambulance Service, says, that the basics of bystander bleeding control involve simple, “easy-to-learn manoeuvres” and that applying “continuous direct pressure to the site of bleeding” is the most effective method.
They discourage locking lifesaving equipment, and address that they should be “easily accessible” and “not kept in locked cabinets”.
There are mixed messages seen with different Ambulance Services supplying various advice.
“You don’t need any specialist skills to use the kits and our emergency call takers can talk you through how to use them”.
South Central Ambulance Service
The City of London Police has distributed over 300 kits in pubs and bars since 2019, with Police Constable David Jarvis advocating “we want to show how lives can be saved by using everyday items, such as a tie or scarf, or by using the stop the bleed kits.”
Islington Council have also invested in installing four Bleed Control cabinets across four key community locations, as part of the ‘Safer Hillrise‘ campaign.
What is in a bleed control kit?
A typical Bleed Control Kit is a custom first aid kit containing, large dressings, Celox Gauze (designed for heavy bleeding), chest seals, tourniquet, disposable gloves, foil blanket, CPR face mask and marker pen.
These kits once purchased can be registered online, but Lynne Baird said more needs to be done by Ambulance services. Baird explains that this isn’t always common practice and that the Ambulance Service “need to be mandated” to register kits.
LAS has stated that it will direct 999 callers by providing “further directions to assist”, and if required supply the codes for Bleed Kit cabinets, but to “only use a tourniquet if you have been trained in their use”.
How do kits differ from cabinets?
Bleed Control Kits are smaller, and are a specialised first aid kit which can be located in public venues for an emergency.
Bleed control cabinets are often attached to buildings or found within stations, similar to defibrillators, and require a code to unlock from 999 emergency services.
Cabinet locations are accessible by guidance from emergency services as only a limited number of people are able to see their location through registering on the GoodSAM App.
Bleed Control Kit Foundation
Lynne Baird, from The Daniel Baird Foundation, explained how she “couldn’t understand why nothing was available for the public to use” regarding equipment for catastrophic bleeding accidents.
The foundation was set up in 2017 in memory of Lynne’s son Dan who was stabbed in July, by November they had set up the first Bleed Control Kit in the United Kingdom.
These kits were designed in collaboration with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and leading consultants from the Trauma Network.
The first UK-based kit was designed as previously they had been purchased from America, but did not reflect the UK’s medical design.
Lynne Baird discusses how training and awareness “needs to start at an early age”. The foundation provides videos and talks, regarding knife crime but also catastrophic bleeding from a wide range of incidents from workplace accidents to dog attacks.
The NHS emergency services state, that if in an emergency, call 999 and direct pressure to the area of bleeding.
