Oxford receives two new emergency bleed kits installations

Placed at East Oxford Community Centre and the shops on St Nicholas Road in Littlemore, the kits are designed to support public response to severe bleeding incidents by providing immediate access to essential first aid equipment before emergency services arrive.

Severe bleeding can lead to death within minutes, so rapid intervention is critical.

Councillor Lubna Arshad, cabinet member for a safer Oxford, said: “In an emergency, every second counts.

“While I hope that these bleed kits are never needed, it is reassuring to know that they are there and could be the difference between life and death.

“The Council is proud to be expanding the locations of these bleed kits across the city, and to be working to help make Oxford safer for everyone.”

Each kit contains tourniquets, trauma dressing, gauze, chest seals, and gloves.

Stored in secure cabinets on the outside of buildings, like defibrillators.

In order to access a kit, members of the public should call 999 and request an ambulance.

The ambulance service will provide the access code to unlock the cabinet.

There are now six publicly accessible bleed kits across Oxford, located at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Barton Community Centre, Underhill Circus, St Nicholas Road Shops, Littlemore, Blackbird Leys Road shops, East Oxford Community Centre, and Templars Square, Between Towns Road.

The installation was marked by a free performance of Motherhood at East Oxford Community Centre.

Written and performed by Claire Nelson, the solo show explores the impact of knife crime on parents.

The event also included Stories That Hit Home, a series of pieces by members of the community affected by knife crime.

Both performances, set in Oxford and based on true experiences, highlighted the personal and social toll of knife crime.

Attendees were also shown the bleed kit and given information on how it could be used in an emergency.

Ms Nelson said: “I’m so pleased that funding from Thames Valley Police for the Stories That Hit Home project has enabled more publicly accessible bleed kits for Oxford.

“We also want people to realise that anyone can use these kits to help someone suffering from severe bleeding before professional help arrives.

“Emergency services give the code to unlock the kits and there’s instructions inside.

“Using one might just save someone’s life.”

She also expressed hope that Stories That Hit Home would continue to share the experiences of those affected by knife crime through further performances at Oxford community centres.