Two bleed control kits were installed at Brighton's The Level yesterday (January 25) as part of Op Safety, the force’s year-round work to combat knife crime and serious violence.
The kits are designed to prevent catastrophic blood loss while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Hastings was the first town in Sussex back in mid-November last year, to have a town-wide plan for these kits, which contain vital life-saving equipment, including dressings, chest seals, tourniquets, gloves, and scissors. They enable members of the public to help stem bleeding in the minutes after an incident.
To access the kit, people should call 999, and a call operator will provide an access code. They will then provide instructions on how to use its contents.
The kits contain:
Dressings
Chest-seals
Tourniquets
Gloves
Scissors
The installations were attended, among others, by Neighbourhood Policing Inspector James Ward and Carl Scott, founder of Project Youth, the charity which works to install bleed control kits across Sussex,
Sussex Police has funded the two kits and they say they hope more will be installed, with funding support from the Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership (SVRP).
Chief Inspector Simon Yates, the force lead for knife crime and serious violence, said:
“We know the devastation knife crime and serious crime causes in our communities and we are doing everything we can to educate people and prevent access to knives that are used for violence, intimidation and harm.
“Tackling an issue as complex as knife crime also requires teamwork and we work with various partners, such as the VRP and Project Youth, to understand the motivations behind carrying a knife and its associated crime.
“These kits will not solve the issue, but they will save someone’s life should they ever be needed.”
Tanya Mackay, manager of the Sussex VRP, said:
“We're supporting the installation of more bleed kits in Brighton, so that any victims can receive vital first aid treatment as quickly as possible.
“We’re really pleased to see these kits being installed in other areas of Sussex, too.
“They're not the answer to knife crime, but they may just save a life.”
Project Youth founder Carl Scott said:
“The aim of the cabinets is not so much around being a deterrent but more around the hope that they work prevent further deaths if someone would be unfortunate enough to have a severe injury in which the contents of the cabinets needed to be used.
“We would like to stress to members of the public that these cabinets can be used for all injuries that cause severe bleeds and have the potential to save life’s if used.”
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added:
“Whilst we hope that the public won’t ever need to use the bleed kits because Sussex still remains a safe place in which to live, we mustn’t ignore the fact that knife crime does happen in our county.
"It’s extremely dangerous to carry a knife and the consequences can be catastrophic so safety measures like these will help to save lives.”
Event Bookings Go Live For Worthing Festival ‘24
Man Charged After Throwing Brick Through Brighton Restaurant Window
Peacehaven Man Disqualified Over High-Speed A27 Pursuit Near Brighton
Appeal After PCSO Assaulted In Uckfield
Man Charged With Rape Of Teenage Girl In Newhaven
Overnight Closures For A22 Forest Row Road Improvements
Brighton Defence Manufacturer's Controversial Planning Application Likely To Be Heard
Over £2.4m Approved For Worthing School Support Centre
Section Of M25 To Close Again Tonight - As Drivers Warned Not To Get Complacent
Plans For 800 New Horsham Homes Refused