Bolton Stop the Bleed Kits installed in the borough

The kits come after similar initiatives elsewhere in Greater Manchester including Bury.

There were calls for the kits to be introduced a few years ago after a stabbing in Westhoughton.

Now Claire Axon, from Darcy Lever, who has become known in the area and surrounding areas for her work around defibrillators has part of the group installing the kits.

Her friend Keith Whittaker has now funded a bleed control kit, which has been installed at St Matthew’s Church House in Little Lever.

It is one of four installed, including one at Vas Vekaria’s defibrillator cabinet at Kegs N Blades convenience store on Lever Edge Lane, Bolton.

Keith said: “I think it’s extremely important in terms of saving somebody's life and I think this is a worthy cause.”

• ALSO READ: Kegs N Blades, Great Lever, install a defibrillator
• ALSO READ: Stop the Bleed Day takes place in Bolton with visits to schools
• ALSO READ: Ainsworth: Whitehead Park to have bleed kit box after stabbing

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Claire said: “Having publicly accessible bleed control packs can help save lives by reducing blood loss until professional medical help arrives.

“I believe there’s not many, if any of these bleed control kits in the Bolton area and I would really like to ask for everyone to jump on board with this and put these lifesaving kits in their defibrillator cabinets, pubs, workplaces etc.

“I feel that these bleed control kits should be placed in as many defibrillator cabinets as possible.”

Two bleed control kits will also be placed at The Volunteer pub, Darcy Lever which may be the first pub in Bolton to have one.

Landlord of the pub, Derek Gallagher, said: “I feel fantastic that we have one in our pub, knowing this will benefit the community.

“Hopefully it will never be used but it’s there for everyone in case of any accidents, and a big thanks to all our regulars who helped in raising money for the kit, and a massive thanks to Claire for nominating our pub.”

Landlord of The Volunteer pub, Derek Gallagher and Claire Axon (Image: Public)

Cllr Andrea Taylor-Burke has welcomed the installation of the kits and that as a mother to two young boys and as a councillor, she hopes this will help make the areas safer.

She said: “I think it is massively important to the community and as a mum, because it is becoming more and more of a possibility that people are carrying weapons across the world.

“It is so important to educate the community on what the kits are and hopefully save lives.

“I want it to be safe for the children.”

Claire says the installation of the kits is support of Lynne Baird’s charity The Daniel Baird Foundation.

Lynne originally developed the bleed kits following the death of her son Daniel in 2017, who died aged just 26 after being fatally stabbed.

Lynne said she is glad that the initiative is now being recognised in Bolton and says the equipment is “absolutely vital”.

Daniel Baird and his girlfriend Gemma Morris (Image: Public)

She said: “It’s not just for violent crimes, it is also about saving lives from catastrophic bleeds, and it has already saved a lot of lives already, including road accidents, dog attacks and much more.

“It’s even more important especially with the delay in ambulance times, which have been even longer since the pandemic.”

Since continuing to drive her campaign thousands of kits have been installed across the country, which was designed for “simple use” by the public.

Lynne said: “When Daniel was out, he had nothing to do with any problems and he ended up getting stabbed and he was just left to die in the streets.

“My son Tom said if there had been any equipment, and somebody knew what to do he would still be with us.

“I used this time to find out and research about these kits because there were none in the country available.”

Lynne says that she did hear talks of kit being introduced in Bolton a few years ago, but she is not sure where this progressed, and believes that this is "possibly" the first in Bolton.

The bleed control kits are stored on a national database and just as in the event of a defibrillator being required, the caller will ring 999 and be told which kit is nearest to their location for fastest collection to provide vital aid to someone in need.

Bleed kits have also been introduced in Bury, and other parts of Greater Manchester, including Trafford.

Other initiatives have included a Stop the Bleed Day across Bolton, Bury and Tameside.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.