A pilot scheme to help save lives is being rolled out in Redcar.
That’s thanks to a pioneering partnership between violence reduction unit CURV and a local councillor.
CURV has funded four emergency bleed kits cabinets. They are based in three locations around Redcar town centre as well as in Roseberry Square Shopping Precinct, Kirkleatham.
The cabinets were the brainchild of councillor – and former club doorman – Peter Grogan.
In his previous job, Cllr Grogan was well aware of the dangers posed by attacks from sharp objects.
Stabbing in broad daylight
However, he was galvanised into action when a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in broad daylight. It happened on Mersey Road, Redcar, in June this year – close to where his son plays football.
When he realised that the victim could have easily been his son or his friends, Cllr Grogan knew he had to act.
Cllr Grogan spoke to organisations like Redcar’s Chris Cave Foundation, the Sunderland-based Connor Brown Trust and Birmingham’s Daniel Baird Foundation.
As a result, he hit on the idea of installing emergency bleed kit cabinets in key locations.
He presented his research to members of CURV and Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner, who backed the idea.
Emergency bleed kit cabinets are now installed at the corner of Queen Street and Station Road, Regents Walk and the High Street, in Redcar town centre. There is also a cabinet in Cllr Grogan’s own ward, in Roseberry Square.
Businesses around those locations have been shown a video demonstrating how to use the kits. They’ve also been given a code to open the cabinets alongside full instructions on how to use the bleed kits.
A no brainer
Steve Turner, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “When Cllr Grogan presented his proposal to myself and the CURV team, it was a no brainer.
“For a relatively small sum of money and little effort, we could have life-saving equipment positioned around the town centre, reaching into the heart of the night time economy. Of course, we were going to say “yes” “
Cllr Grogan is now lobbying for the bleed kit cabinets to be incorporated into the emergency services’ CAD systems in the same way as defibrillator cabinets. That will give emergency workers information on life-saying equipment so they can access cabinets quickly in an emergency.
Cllr Grogan said: “When somebody has catastrophic bleed, there are only three to five minutes to save a life.
“There is no doubt that the more cabinets, which are located in this area, the more lives will be saved.”