Bleed kits scheme extended to 160 city taxis

A trial to put bleed control kits inside taxis is being expanded.

In February, charity Rapaid put kits into 50 black cabs based outside Plymouth train station.

This will now be extended to 160 vehicles that will carry bandages to help stop bleeding quickly.

Rapaid said anyone can flag down a taxi and ask to use the kit to help keep an injured person alive until the emergency services arrived.

The additional bleed kits have been bought with a £10,000 donation from Devonport-based global defence company, Babcock International Group.

Alex Chivers, co-founder of Rapaid, said: "It takes just three to five minutes to bleed out and anyone can use our military-style bandages to stop the bleed in seconds, using the simple instructions included."

Each kit contains sealed emergency bandages, which are specifically designed to stop a catastrophic bleed in the field, with a built-in pressure pad and tourniquet.

The paramedic-grade bags also hold surgical gloves and easy-to-follow, laminated instructions, with step-by-step images to make it quick and simple for anyone to apply the bandages, the charity said.

Participating cabs have stickers on the front and rear windows to make it clear that they are carrying a bleed kit.

Mr Chivers said: "The cab drivers do not need to use the kits themselves, the idea is that their vehicle is where the emergency bandages kit is kept for public use anywhere in the Plymouth area.

"This is vital first aid for any kind of accident or incident, including road traffic collisions, terror attacks, stabbings or falls."

The first kits are being installed in cabs on 16 and 17 September, with the remainder being added to the city’s cabs over the coming weeks, the charity said.

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