The first eight emergency ‘bleed control cabinets’ have been installed across Lancashire in an attempt to help reduce blood loss after serious injuries.
The bright-red cabinets each hold several pieces of equipment and instructions to control bleeding before paramedics arrive. The cabinets are accessible 24 hours a day using a code provided by calling 999.
The newly installed cabinets have been put up in key locations across Lancashire based on recorded knife crime data from the Violence Reduction Network. These areas include:
- Burnley Town Centre
- Blackburn Town Centre
- Rawtenstall Bus Station
- Preston Bus Station
- Plungington Community Centre
- Chorley Market
- Coastal Taxis, Morecambe
- Poulton Cabs, Poulton-Le-Fylde
This is just the start of the roll out of the life-saving equipment, a further six cabinets are due to be put up in locations across the county. These locations have been identified through crime data and with input from outreach workers.
Chief Inspector Dave Oldfield, Lancashire VRN said: “Our mission as a violence reduction network is primarily to take a preventative approach to serious violence. However, when incidents occur, we want people to be prepared so we can hopefully save a life.”
“The kit at Chorley market is available 24/7 and can help save a life by minimising blood loss until professional medical help arrives. They aren’t there to replace professional aid but can pack or wrap a wound to slow down the bleeding.”
The roll out of the lifesaving equipment has been done in partnership with ‘kNOwknifecrime’, a positive awareness movement set up in memory of Colin McGinty. It was launched following the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Colin McGinty in March 2001, and is supported by his sister, Laura Hughes, and the foundation created in his memory.
‘kNOwKnifecrime’ aims to make people aware of the long-term traumatic effects of knife crime in the hope of deterring people from carrying a knife. They also raise money to fund youth related knife crime prevention work across the North West, including buying vital KnifeSavers bleed control packs and installing them across the region.
