A new scheme will see life-saving equipment placed in various locations across the borough of Rochdale.
The council’s community safety and resilience service together with the kNOw Knife Crime campaign are developing a scheme that will see emergency bleed box kits placed across the borough so that during emergencies callers will be directed to the kits by 999 operators and talked through the process of how to use them. Like defibrillators, which are used to help people suffering from heart problems, the bleed kits are stored in secure cabinets outside buildings.
The first bleed kit has been placed outside Rochdale Police station in The Esplanade, with Middleton and Heywood stations to follow. Plans are under way to install more in prominent locations. Each kit contain dressings, an emergency tourniquet (a cord tied around limbs to stop bleeding), a foil blanket, and gloves. The kits provide immediate treatment for severe bleeding not just in relation to knife crime, but in the event of other traumatic incidents to prevent significant blood loss, which is invaluable in saving a life.
On average, it takes an ambulance 17 minutes to reach a patient, but bleeding from serious injuries, such as stabbings, can prove to be fatal in as little as 3 minutes. The use of these kits can help slow down blood loss until an ambulance arrives.
Pictured from left to right: Rhys Dunne, community safety officer; Jessica Rigby, charity representative for Cash For Kids; Rafael Martinez, assistant director public protection and neighbourhoods; Superintendent Lucy Smallwood, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Rochdale; Laura Hughes, founder of the kNOw Knife Crime campaign and sister of Colin McGinty, who was the victim of a fatal knife attack; Chief Inspector Bryn Saville GMP, Rochdale; Robert McGinty, head of Hollingworth High School, co-founder of the kNOw Knife Crime campaign and brother of Colin McGinty; Elizabeth Hetherington, community safety officer.
Councillor Daalat Ali, joint deputy leader and cabinet member for health, for the council said:
"Incidents involving knives are sadly a worrying and tragic reality. A bleed control kit can save lives so treatment can start even before paramedics arrive. Incidents such as a catastrophic bleed, can be prevented by the application of a tourniquet to reduce significant blood loss, it’s good news that we will be seeing more of these kits in the borough, which could save many lives.”
Laura Hughes, sister of Colin McGinty, who was the victim of a knife attack and co-founder of the kNOw Knife Crime campaign said:
“We are proud to be working with Rochdale Borough Council on this important initiative. It’s inspiring to see the rollout of bleed control equipment across the area, which will help create a safer environment for everyone living in the borough. The kNOwKnifeCrime campaign is committed to supporting practical, lifesaving solutions like this, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have."
The bleed kits and cabinets have been donated by the kNOw Knife Crime charity. Rochdale Borough Council’s community safety and resilience team will initially maintain the kits as part of their regular checks across the borough.