Borough Council boosts public safety with new bleed kits

A life-saving council mission to add emergency “bleed kits” to newly-installed defibrillators across Erewash means more than a dozen locations now boast both – as it emerged some of the gear has already been used.

Bleed kits typically include trauma dressing, haemostatic gauze, chest seal, a tourniquet, nitrile gloves and scissors – along with vital instructions.

Defibrillators are used to shock the heart into beating again if someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

Cllr Josy Hare, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “It has been shown that bleed kits and defibs can save lives. That is why we are urging residents to familiarise themselves with the nearest location.”

The bleed kits have been added to defibrillators at Trent Lock in Sawley and are on the walls of two Ilkeston pubs – The Davy Lamp in Hallam Fields and The Newdigate Arms in West Hallam.

In Long Eaton, they are at the old Shopmobility building and Bridge House next to the Town Hall. In Borrowash they can be found at two shops – the Premier and Londis stores.

Other Ilkeston locations are Toll Bar House, Advanced Roofing Ltd, HiQ on Heanor Road, Little Plums day nursery, Erewash Museum and the council’s depot on Merlin Way.

The town halls in both Ilkeston and Long Eaton have also had the emergency gear installed. Funding for it has come from the Safer Erewash Partnership, which is backed by the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

To open the boxes, people need to get a code by phoning 999. They will be given instructions on how to use the equipment. 

The British Heart Foundation stresses on its website: “Anyone can use a defibrillator. You do not need training. Once you turn it on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions.”

An easy-to-follow guide including a video can be found here. Understanding defibrillators-what they are and how to use them – BHF

The first of the new defibs – the one at Trent Lock – was funded by Sawley Parish Council. A message from Mayor of Erewash Cllr Harry Atkinson after he unveiled it can be viewed here.