Bleed control kits to be installed across West Country

An event is planned in Keynsham this morning

Bleed control kits, similar to this one in Manchester, will be installed across the West Country
Author: James DiamondPublished 12th Sep 2023

Special "bleed control kits" are set to be installed in public places across the West Country as part of a new initiative from Avon and Somerset Police to prevent deaths from knife crime.

The first of 144 such kits is due to be installed on the outside of Keynsham Civic Centre in a ceremony this morning (12 September), starting at 11am.

The kits have been created thanks to a partnership between the police, NHS and a medical equipment company called HeartSafe.

They are designed to help control bleeding when someone suffers a traumatic injury, which could be caused by a car crash or bad fall as well as stabbings.

The event in Keynsham will mark the installation of the first of 14 kits being rolled out as part of a trial.

All the kits are due to be installed next to existing HeartSafe defibrillators, which have become increasingly common in public areas in recent years.

Representatives from the police, local councillors and community leaders are due to speak at the event, which we will also be at.

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