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New Bleed Kits Rolled Out Across Birmingham

5 June 2019, 08:50

Specialist first aid kits are being rolled out across more than 50 pubs and clubs in Birmingham - in an attempt to reduce the number of people dying from knife attacks.

Birmingham Community Safety Partnership has been working with campaigner Lynne Baird, of The Daniel Baird Foundation - which was set up after he was fatally stabbed while out with friends in Birmingham on 8 July 2017.

There was no first aid or bleed control kit available, and Daniel died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding.

#WATCH: "I didn't want any other family to go through that."#HeartNews has been speaking to @lynnebaird8 from @TheDanielBaird1 as new bleed kits are rolled out to more than 50 clubs and bars in #Birmingham. @OFFICIALWMAS helped design them - with funding from @WestMidsPCC. pic.twitter.com/QPOg1onvJB
— Heart West Midlands News (@HeartWMidsNews) June 5, 2019

On average it takes a priority ambulance seven 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 to five minutes.

These bleed control kits aim to help save vital minutes until paramedics arrive at the scene.

The BCSP received £4,000 from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to purchase 50 kits, which will be distributed to a various businesses and late night venues - including The Village in Hurst St.

David Jamieson said: “Lynne Baird has done a fantastic job campaigning so passionately for the small life-saving packs to be rolled out across Birmingham. They are relatively inexpensive and if they help just one person they will have proved a resounding success. Lynne’s efforts are to be admired and I’m delighted to have been able to help, even in just a small way.”

The kits have also been endorsed by West Midlands Ambulance Service - who helped design them.

Shane Roberts from @OFFICIALWMAS has told us about new bleed control kits which have been launched in pubs and bars in #Birmimgham today @TheDanielBaird1 #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/4Qj8QHhwgf
— Heart West Midlands News (@HeartWMidsNews) June 4, 2019

Staff at venues will receive training on these kits, and people who call 999 will be directed to the nearest kit and talked through how to use it by WMAS's call centre Trauma Team.