Confusion Surrounds Bleed Kits Amid Mixed Messages from London Ambulance Service
The London Ambulance Service’s stance on bleed kits raises questions, leaving campaigners uncertain about their future.
London, Bleed Kits, Ambulance Service, Stabbings, Emergency Response
London: Four years back, Professor Anthony Marsh from the West Midlands Ambulance Service praised the idea of making bleed kits available to the public. So, why is the London Ambulance Service dragging its feet on this?
There are over 400 bleed control kits stashed in locked cabinets all over London. They’re meant to help people hurt in stabbings or traffic accidents.
When someone calls 999, the idea is that the call handler can tell them where to find the nearest kit and give them the unlock code. Sounds good, right?
But here’s the kicker: the London Ambulance Service seems to be sending mixed signals. They say they’ll help people find these kits when it’s appropriate, but they also claim that using them needs special training. This has left many wondering if they’re really on board with the whole idea.
It’s also a bit worrying that the Mayor’s Office has put money into these cabinets through local councils and the Met Police, yet they’re backing the LAS’s doubts about how useful they are.
Now, campaigners are stuck. Should they keep putting up these cabinets, hoping the LAS will change its tune? Or is it time to move on and focus on projects that have clear support from the authorities?