Life-saving bleed kits to be installed in Cardiff's taxis
The goal is to make emergency bandages accessible whenever and wherever they’re needed
Life-saving equipment will be rolled out to taxis in Cardiff thanks to a campaign from bleed kit charity RAPAID.
The capital is the first city in Wales to benefit from the scheme, with 5,000 kits already installed in the UK.
The goal is to make emergency bandages accessible whenever and wherever they’re needed across the city to treat major bleeds and wounds.
Alex Chivers, who has served in the Special Forces and as a police fire arms officer, is the co-founder of RAPAID and has personally installed thousands of kits in cabs around the country.
He explains: “The idea is that cabs are constantly moving around city centres, and anyone can flag down a RAPAID kit and ask to use the kit. It takes just three to five minutes to bleed out, and anyone can use our military-style bandages to stop the bleed in seconds, using the simple instructions included.
“Just as defibrillators in public places can save lives and buy time in the event of a cardiac arrest, our kits can keep an injured person alive until the emergency services arrive.”
Each kit contains bandages, pressure pads and a tourniquet alongside easy-to-follow instructions.
Alex continues: “The cab drivers do not need to use the kits themselves, the idea is that their vehicle is where the emergency bandages kit is kept for public use anywhere, as and when needed.
“This is vital first aid for any kind of accident or incident, including road traffic collisions, terror attacks, stabbings or falls.”
Alex was joined by Rhys Morgan and Adrian Snook to install the first RAPAID kits in Cardiff’s distinctive black and white cabs at Cardiff Central train station taxi rank on Friday morning (20th September), as the RAPAID team explained the kits to drivers and placed a sticker in the front and rear windows.
Rhys Morgan commented: “The authority are delighted that drivers in the city will be able to carry these kits and for the campaign to be available in the city. The initiative has been seen to gain excellent momentum and we are pleased that the Cardiff taxi community can be part of this campaign.
“The Kits have been donated to a number of Cardiff drivers in order for them to carry the RAPAID kits and identification stickers in their vehicles, safely and hygienically should they ever be needed. Having the tools available across the city to assist in preparedness and response to serious accidents or emergencies is a step forward in providing support to the wider daytime and nighttime economy in the city.
“We hope the rest of the campaign is successful in the continued roll out.”
Adrian Snook added: “Cardiff has an excellent history of partnership working and this is yet another example of efforts to keep the city centre safe, as well as vibrant and welcoming.
“The RAPAID campaign is a welcome addition to a range of police and partnership initiatives already in place.”