Stab death inspires Woodley shopping centre bleed kit

Bleed control kits are used in conjunction with the ambulance service when you call 999

A bleed control kit has been installed in a shopping centre following a campaign by a family whose son was stabbed to death in a city centre.

Woodley & Earley Lions Club has purchased the kit for Woodley Town Centre Shopping Precinct in Berkshire.

The charity hopes they will become common in public places in the same way as defibrillators.

The kit was pioneered by the Daniel Baird Foundation after the 26-year-old died in Birmingham in 2017.

Lynne Baird set up the foundation because she believes her son may have survived had an emergency first aid been available.

Glenda Kennedy, president of Woodley & Earley Lions Club, said: "I want people to be able to save lives"

Glenda Kennedy, from Woodley & Earley Lions Club, said: "Stabbings or accidents, or any other injury, can happen anywhere at anytime and this is just hopefully the first of many that will be put all around the country.

"I've been a keen first aider all my life and I want people to be able to save lives, not to have to stand there and not be able to do anything."

Councillor Juliet Anderson urged people not to be worried about using the bleed control kits

Councillor and deputy mayor for Woodley, Juliet Anderson, said: "I think this [kit] has a range of uses, so particularly road traffic accidents - we've got quite busy roads in Woodley, and industrial accidents - we are surrounded by shops, and things happen.

"I think any trauma this is absolutely vital for and I would recommend it goes into any space. "

Ms Anderson urged people not to be worried about using the kit because they are used in conjunction with an ambulance service.

Anyone in the Woodley area can call 999, they will be given a code to open the box and guidance on how to use what is inside.

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