New 24-hour accessible bleed control kit for Chelmsford's Central Park Café
A new 24-hour accessible bleed control kit has been installed outside Central Park Café in Chelmsford, giving people round-the-clock access to specialist equipment that could help save a life before emergency services arrive.
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst joined campaigner Julie Taylor BEM and Essex Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Glen Pavelin, to launch the new kit.
Julie founded the Liam Taylor Legacy in memory of her grandson, Liam, who was tragically killed in Writtle in 2020. Since then, the charity has made around 750 bleed control kits available across Essex. The kits have been used to save four lives and have helped many more people in the critical minutes before emergency services arrive.
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst said:
"Julie is just amazing. Since the tragic event in her own family, she's dedicated her life to this cause. We've campaigned and lobbied together successfully for changes to the law, and her testimony is so powerful wherever it lands.
"We know these kits make a difference. We've now got them rolled out in police cars because police officers are so often first on the scene. Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are behind this effort, and we're grateful to the New City Girls WI for funding this latest kit.
"Since 2019, we've seen knife crime in Essex reduce by about a quarter and the number of people going into hospital with knife wounds has almost halved. Thankfully, the number of people losing their lives has fallen by even more. Working in partnership like this plays a huge part in helping to keep people safe."
Julie Taylor BEM said:
"Every day, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, I think about how we can raise more money, who might help next and where we can put the next bleed control kit. I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey.
"These kits have already saved four lives and helped many more people by providing emergency treatment when a standard first aid kit wasn't enough. Every new kit means another community has access to equipment that could make all the difference while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.”
Funded by the New City Girls WI, the latest kit means there are now seven publicly accessible bleed control kits across Chelmsford city centre.
Five are located at Central Park Café, Essex Cricket Ground, The Globe on Rainsford Road, The Garrison on High Street and The Two Brewers on Springfield Road. Two further kits are available inside the defibrillator cabinets outside The Range on Springfield Road, opposite Smoke and Dough.
A bleed control kit is also available inside Central Park Café during opening hours.
Bleed control kits contain specialist equipment designed to help control catastrophic bleeding in the critical minutes before emergency services arrive, giving members of the public access to equipment that could help save a life.
Anyone needing to access a 24-hour publicly accessible bleed control kit should call 999. The emergency operator will provide the access code.