I hope no other family has to go through what we did

Tuesday 4^th March 2019 – 6.00pm – Murray MacGregor.

A new scheme to equip Birmingham city centre businesses and late night venues with specialist first aid kits that could save the lives of victims of stabbings and gunshots has been launched.

Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP) has been working with campaigner Lynne Baird, of The Daniel Baird Foundation and West Midlands Ambulance Service, to develop and deliver ‘Bleed Control Kits’ at locations across the city centre.

The Daniel Baird Foundation was set up by his family after he was fatally stabbed while out with friends in Birmingham in July 2017. Daniel died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding.

Patients suffering catastrophic bleeds from serious injuries such as those caused by a stabbing, shooting or car accident can prove fatal in as little as three to five minutes if the bleeding is not stemmed.

The idea behind the bleed control kits is to buy the first vital minutes before ambulance staff can reach the scene.

Lynne Baird, Daniel’s mother, said: “Daniel died very quickly after he was stabbed due to the level of blood loss.  Unfortunately, there was no first aid kit available that could have helped him and that’s why we’ve helped develop these kits as they could make a difference.

“I just hope that these kits might mean that no other family has to go through what we have.”

The BCSP received £4,000 from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to purchase 50 kits which were developed by WMAS and the West Midlands Trauma Networks.  WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “In cases such as Daniel’s, every second counts and being able to stem the bleeding could make the difference between life and death.  I also hope that the work of the Daniel Baird Foundation will result in kits becoming as common as defibrillators are so that many more lives can be saved right across our country.”

Staff at the 50 venues will receive training on these kits, and people who call 999 will be directed to the nearest kit and talked through how to use it by the WMAS call handlers who take 999 calls about such cases.

WMAS Trauma Lead, Shane Roberts said: “I am in no doubt that having kit like this available int he City Centre will undoubtedly save someones life.  in some circumstances it is those first few minutes that will make the difference between life and death.”

Ends