Could This Simple Kit Save Lives? 25 Bleed Control Kits Installed Across Cornwall

A new life-saving resource is being rolled out across Cornwall, with 25 bleed control kits set to be installed in key public locations. The Safer Cornwall partnership has secured funding for the kits, which aim to provide immediate support in the event of a catastrophic bleed.

Where Will the Kits Be Located?

The kits will be placed next to or near existing community defibrillators in Bodmin, Liskeard, Bude, Launceston, Saltash, Truro, St Austell, Newquay, Pool, Redruth, Camborne, Penzance, and Helston.

Designed for use by the public in emergency situations, the kits contain trauma dressings and step-by-step instructions to help manage severe bleeding until paramedics arrive. No training is required to use them.

Chair of Safer Cornwall, Simon Mould, highlighted Cornwall’s unique geography as a challenge for emergency response times, saying:

“By equipping our communities with HeartSafe bleed control kits, we are addressing these challenges head-on, ensuring lifesaving support is accessible during those critical minutes before professional help arrives.”

How Do the Kits Work?

Time is crucial when dealing with severe blood loss. On average, a critical amount of blood can be lost in just four minutes following an incident such as:

• A road traffic collision
• A sporting injury
• An accident at home or work
• A violent assault

The HeartSafe trauma kits are stored in visible, unlocked red dispensers, ensuring they can be accessed quickly. After calling 999, a person can follow the included instructions to help stabilise the injured individual until medical professionals arrive.

Partnership Inspector for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Sophie Curtis, emphasised the importance of these kits:

“These bleed control kits offer additional support in our communities in the case of an emergency and may help save lives. They can be used in any kind of incident where someone has sustained a catastrophic bleed; for example, a traumatic injury as a result of a fall or road traffic collision.”

Support for the Rollout

Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Carol Mould, expressed gratitude to the businesses and organisations that have agreed to house the kits, stating:

“They provide an additional emergency aid resource for our communities that requires no training and can be used in a range of settings whilst awaiting the emergency services.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust encouraged people to learn basic first aid, adding:

“When someone is bleeding heavily, phoning 999 and trying to stop the bleed is essential to help save their life.”

Find Your Nearest Bleed Control Kit

Cornwall residents can find their nearest kit using the Bleed Kit Map. This interactive tool provides an address, photo, and What3words location reference for each kit. Additional kits can also be purchased from HeartSafe and registered on the map.

For more information, including a brochure on how to use the kits, visit the Safer Cornwall website.