Wiltshire to roll out 100 emergency bleed control kits

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 7 Nov, 06:09 · Archive

Wiltshire Council is distributing around 100 emergency bleed control kits across the county's 18 community areas.

Wiltshire Council is distributing approximately 100 emergency bleed control kits across the county through its new Wiltshire Community Lifelines project. The kits will be placed in all 18 community areas, designed to help communities respond to life-threatening bleeding emergencies before emergency services arrive.

Around 40 kits will be located in council-owned buildings, with the remainder hosted by community venues willing to sign up as 'Wiltshire Community Lifelines Champions'. Potential host locations include village halls, community centres, sports clubs, pubs and shops.

The initiative follows a motion brought to Full Council on 19 May by Reform UK councillor Boaz Barry, alongside Chris Vaughan. The motion called for 100 kits to be purchased, and it was ultimately approved unanimously by the council.

According to the Salisbury Journal, the debate around the proposal was initially contentious. Cabinet member for public health Clare Cape initially argued the issue should go through scrutiny and said she could not support the motion as presented. Council leader Ian Thorn raised concerns about continuing maintenance costs. However, despite these objections, the council reached unanimous agreement to provide funding.

Counsellor Mel Jacob, cabinet member for communities, said that while communities hope never to need such kits, 'having them available in our communities could make a real difference in those crucial moments before emergency services arrive'. He compared the initiative to public defibrillators, describing bleed control kits as 'another way of helping communities be prepared'.

Counsellor Barry said he was 'delighted to see it now being delivered' and thanked partners including HeartSafe UK and Wiltshire Police for helping to turn the motion into reality. He noted that 'catastrophic bleeding can take a life in minutes' and that the kits 'mean that when the worst happens, people in our communities have the tools to step in and help before emergency services arrive'.

How it is being reported

• Around 100 bleed control kits to be installed across Wiltshire communitiesEmergency bleed control kits are being rolled out across the county.Swindon Advertiser · 7 Nov, 05:00
• Around 100 bleed control kits to be installed across Wiltshire communitiesEmergency bleed control kits are being rolled out across the county.Wiltshire Times · 7 Nov, 05:00
• Around 100 bleed control kits to be installed across Wiltshire communitiesEmergency bleed control kits are being rolled out across the county.This Is Wiltshire · 7 Nov, 05:00
• Around 100 bleed control kits to be installed across Wiltshire communitiesEmergency bleed control kits are being rolled out across the county.Gazette & Herald · 7 Nov, 05:00
• Wiltshire to roll out 100 bleed kits after fiery council debateWiltshire Council is rolling out 100 bleed control kits across 18 community areas, inviting pubs, shops, sports clubs and venues to host them.Salisbury Journal · 6 Nov, 10:10

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Boaz Barry · Wiltshire · HeartSafe UK · Wiltshire Police · Mel Jacob

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