Specialist bleed kits for Staffordshire police cars

200 Staffordshire police cars now have bleed control kits on board.

The specialist kits are designed to complement existing first aid supplies in police cars and can be used to control bleeding from trauma injuries caused by stabbings or serious road traffic collisions before the ambulance or paramedics arrive.

The kits include a chest seal, chito gauze dressing and a rapid stop tourniquet.

The new kits build on the static kits introduced in Burton-on-Trent by Rob Freckleton in memory of his son, Oliver, and in Stoke-on-Trent by Chit Chat 4 U, a group created by mums with lived experience to support victims of or those involved in gangs, youth violence and knife crime.

The new kits will be used by first aid-trained officers only, whereas the kits in public spaces can be used by members of the public with guidance from medical professionals.

Previous cases where the kits have been used have been highlighted. PC Smith, a Dog Handler, used a tourniquet when he arrived first on the scene to find a man with severe bleeding. PC Smith applied tourniquets to the injuries and was able to stabilise the man until emergency medical assistance arrived.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Ellison said: “We have put bleed control kits in 200 of our police cars so we can respond, help to keep people alive and deal with some really traumatic injuries.

“The bleed kits contain items that will help to save someone’s life while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Immediate action where there is a catastrophic bleed can make a big difference to the outcome.”

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, is Chair of the Violence Reduction Alliance. He said: “When someone is seriously injured, getting treatment to stop any bleeding as quickly as possible is vital.

“Here in Staffordshire, we take a coordinated partnership approach to reducing harm through our Violence Reduction Alliance. Introducing potentially life-saving measures such as these bleed kits helps to reduce the impact violence can have on communities.

“I am determined to do everything I can to keep our communities in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe, which is why I was happy to provide part funding for these kits, giving our Police officers the equipment they need to potentially save a life.”