Lifesaving bleed control kits are set to be introduced across Bedfordshire, thanks to a partnership between Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (VERU) and local non-profit organisation, Wingman Mentors.
130 kits will be placed in accessible locations across Bedfordshire, delivered by youth support service, Wingman Mentors and funded by the VERU and Bedfordshire’s Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).
The specialist kits – containing a trauma dressing, chest seal, pack bandage, tourniquet and other trauma care items – are designed for members of the public to be able to provide treatment for someone suffering severe bleeding while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Once installed, the locations of the kits will be uploaded onto emergency alert app, GoodSam, as well as a community map, ensuring emergency services and bystanders have access to the kit in the event of a traumatic injury.
Head of the VERU, Cara Gavin, said: “I’m incredibly pleased to be working with Wingman Mentors and the OPCC on this project to roll these kits out across the whole of Bedfordshire.
“We have seen critical bleed kits play a vital role in saving lives across the country, be it for injuries as a result of violence or road traffic collisions.
“Naturally, our hope and the work we are doing is focused on not needing emergency interventions like this, but in the rare case that we do, we’re proud to be ensuring anyone facing a life-threatening situation has better access to immediate trauma care.”
Distribution of the kits forms just one phase of the pivotal project.
Awareness sessions will also be delivered to the wider community including parents, fuelling open discussions around the issue of knife crime while raising the profile of the interventions available.
The sessions will be hosted by Wingman Mentors’ specialist youth workers and aimed at reaching young people. Conversations will centre around encouraging self-reflection, resilience, and provide practical tools to help young people make better life choices, reducing their risk of involvement in crime.
Wingman Mentors’ Operations Director Michelle Kane said: “We’re thrilled to have the support of the OPCC and the VERU for this life-saving initiative.
“This project isn’t just about placing kits; it’s about creating a network of local volunteers who care for and manage these resources, bringing communities together in the shared mission of safety and support.
“The awareness sessions offer a space to discuss the impacts of knife crime, explore its causes, and begin to address some of the difficult questions surrounding it. This initiative allows us to support young people at risk of involvement in knife crime, connecting them with mentors who encourage healthier choices and positive actions, creating safer communities and better futures.”
Funding will also cover the training of a cohort of 65 volunteers – one in each ward – who will take responsibility for quarterly maintenance checks of each kit, and ensure they are replenished once used.
Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard said: “I’m pleased to have my office involved in this initiative.
“Though the kits themselves are to be used as a last resort, the project as a whole opens the door for wider discussions about knife crime, the trauma it causes and the ways in which we can all work together to tackle it.
“Programmes like these are crucial if we are going to stem the issue of knife crime; engaging parents, using social media and reaching younger children – not waiting until they are in their adolescence.”
Brilliant idea, just sad it’s come to this .