A SIMPLE question from PC Mark Bennett of Stourport Police Safer Neighbourhood Team led to the town getting 11 new bleed kits.
The specialised first aid packages contain specific tools to help control excessive bleeding.
PC Bennett said: “I had seen on social media about a school up north that had bleed kits, and I turned to my colleagues and said that I wish we had them in Stourport.
“That inspired me to spend some time researching where to get these kits from, and I came across The Daniel Baird Foundation Charity.”
In July 2017, 26-year-old Daniel Baird was fatally stabbed in Birmingham following a night out with friends.
Sadly, Daniel died shortly after arriving at hospital due to the catastrophic bleeding. Had there been some first aid or bleeding control kit available, Daniel could still be here today.
Following Daniel’s death, his family set up The Daniel Baird Foundation Charity in his memory and now raise awareness of the importance of having publicly accessible bleeding control packs available.
PC Bennett added his colleague PC Sam Maher spoke to Daniel’s mum Dr Lynne Baird MBE who was extremely passionate about the importance of cities and towns having bleed kits available to members of the public.
And, following that conversation, the police contacted local businesses and Stourport Town Council to encourage them to purchase bleed kits to be stored within community access defibrillators in Stourport.
PC Sam Maher, who has worked alongside PC Bennett to get the kits into the town, added: “The aim isn’t to bring concern to the town that we have a huge knife problem – we wanted to add something into Stourport that adds that extra bit of safety should it ever be needed.”
He thanked Gore Properties and Stourport Town Council which bought kits and Lynne Baird, who was happy with what had been achieved – she donated three to the town.
“We will continue to engage with our partners and local businesses to encourage others to purchase more kits that can then be put in other parts of the town”.
Bleed kit locations
One kit has been donated to Stourport High School, another at Burlish Bike Park and one at the new youth centre on The Walshes.
The other kits are at: Gore Properties, St Michaels Close, Elizabeth Mills Centre, Sion Gardens, the public toilets at The Riverside Car Park, Stourport Community Centre, Lower Lickhill Road and The Black Star, Mitton Street.
Dr Baird said: “Huge congratulations to West Mercia Police in Stourport, Worcestershire for their outstanding work in getting bleed control kits into the local community. “Your dedication, collaboration, and commitment to public safety will undoubtedly save lives.
“The area is safer because of your efforts, and your proactive approach sets a powerful example for others to follow.”
‘Working together’
Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Morris said it was an incredible example of passion and initiative from the SNT and commended PC Bennett and PC Maher on their work to get these potentially lifesaving bleed kits onto the streets of Stourport.
“This also demonstrates how collaboratively working with partner agencies, such as the town council, makes us a much stronger force and together we have now provided something to the people of Stourport that could potentially one day prevent someone losing a life.“
ACC Morris has been involved with the Daniel Baird Foundation and Dr Baird for many years and her mission to roll out bleed kits and awareness.
“I wholeheartedly support this drive to get vital first aid equipment into our town and city centres.
“They can support a number of incidents from accidents, road collisions, knife crime and assaults.
“Whilst West Mercia doesn’t see the levels of knife crime that is seen in some parts of the UK, the access to lifesaving kit in a time of need is really important.”
The move came in the same week as Operation Sceptre where West Mercia Police and other forces across the country have been undertaking a knife crime intensification week, highlighting the issue and what is being done to combat it all-year-round.
Visit: controlthebleed.org.uk/index.html for more on The Daniel Baird Foundation charity.
