Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership

22/02/2026

🚨 Community Update – Bristol City Centre Bleed Kits 🚨

We’re very sad to share that in the past 7 days, 22 public bleed kits in Bristol City Centre have been reported stolen.

That’s 22 life-saving pieces of equipment currently unavailable if someone were to suffer a catastrophic bleed. 🩸

Our bleed kit dispensers are intentionally unlocked and immediately accessible. We know this sometimes raises questions, but we truly believe that when someone is bleeding heavily, every second matters. This is a concept supported by the NHS and Ambulance service.

In a catastrophic bleed, a person can lose their life in as little as 4 minutes. ⏱️
Having equipment unlocked removes delay.
Removing delay helps save lives. ❤️

Quick access allows members of the public to begin treatment immediately, slowing or stopping bleeding until paramedics arrive. 🚑

🔎 Investigation Ongoing

These thefts are being investigated. Many of our kits are located in areas covered by CCTV.

As soon as a kit is reported missing — whether by a member of the public or an officer on duty — it is immediately taken offline and removed from emergency services mapping systems. 🗺️

Replacing the stolen kits will cost over £2,000, and our volunteer driver team are already working hard behind the scenes to restore kits across the city. 🚗💙

These kits are installed for one simple reason:
To give someone the best possible chance of surviving a traumatic injury.

📢 If you have any information that could assist, please get in touch.

🤝 If you are an individual or organisation who would like to support us in maintaining and replenishing our bleed kits in the future through a donation, we would be incredibly grateful. Please contact:

📧 communitybleedkit@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Thank you to everyone who continues to support this work and helps us keep our communities safer. 🛡️💙

20/02/2026

Superintendent Mike Vass, confounder of the Partnership, said:

“Our partnership with South West Ambulance service foundation trust (SWASFT) is a huge step forward in making the Avon and Somerset Partnership bleed kits as effective and accessible as possible. Having them officially recognised and supported by the ambulance service ensures that the public can be immediately directed to the nearest Avon and Somerset bleed kit site and more lives can potentially be saved. SWASFT’s official joining of the partnership supports the key principles of the consistent scalable model of instant access community supported bleed kits. It’s been a lot of work to get to this point and our hope is that we will work together with NHS England to launch our partnership model nationally to protect all communities.”

19/02/2026

Craig Wilkins, Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are proud to be collaborating with the Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership to make these essential kits more accessible in emergencies. At SWASFT, we are always looking for innovative ways to enhance patient care and strengthen our partnerships with other agencies. By supporting our call handlers to identify nearby kits, we can ensure that bystanders can quickly locate and use a bleed kit, providing potentially lifesaving assistance while awaiting an ambulance.

“When someone is bleeding heavily, phoning 999 and trying to stop the bleed is essential to help save their life. Knowing basic first aid can often make a big difference in the moments before an ambulance arrives on scene, and we would encourage everyone to learn these vital skills. Our call takers are trained to provide immediate advice and support to callers so they can administer first aid before medical help arrives. If a bleed kit is available nearby and someone can retrieve it, the call taker will direct them to its location and guide them through its use. This coordinated approach ensures that critical interventions can begin as soon as possible, improving patient outcomes in those crucial moments.”

17/02/2026

🗺️🩸 Know Where to Find Help – When Every Second Counts 🩸🗺️

Our Public Bleed Kit Map is helping communities across the South West be better prepared for life-threatening emergencies.

We’re proud to say that HeartSafe is the only bleed kit provider whose kits are:
✅ Logged on the South Western Ambulance Service mapping system 🚑
✅ Listed on the Avon and Somerset Police mapping system 👮‍♂️

This isn’t by chance. It’s due to official endorsement, the trusted product type, and the simplicity of our kits to use — designed so that anyone can act in an emergency.

🔓 Unlocked, readily available cabinets mean:
⏱️ No codes
⏱️ No delays
⏱️ No barriers to saving a life

In a catastrophic bleeding emergency, minutes matter. Knowing where the nearest bleed kit is located before you ever need it can make all the difference ❤️

Our map allows the public to check where HeartSafe bleed kits are positioned in their community — at places of work, travel hubs, venues and public spaces — all shared by owners who want to help in an emergency. You should ALWAYS call 999 in an emergency 🆘 where you can be guided to the nearest Partnership bleed kit

Preparedness saves lives.
Access saves time.
Simplicity saves lives.

🩸🗺️ Check the map. Share the map. Be ready.

www.heartsafe.org.uk/bleed-kit-map/

15/02/2026

🍻🎶 Safer Nights Start with Prepared Venues 🎶🍻

Pubs and clubs are at the heart of our towns and cities — places where people come together to relax, celebrate and enjoy themselves. But like any busy environment, incidents and accidents can happen. In rare but serious situations, catastrophic bleeding can become life-threatening within minutes ⏳

That’s why having a publicly accessible bleed kit on site is so important.

🩹 Rapid response equipment to control severe bleeding
📍 Clearly accessible location for staff or bystanders
👥 Simple to use — designed for the public, not just medics
🚑 Buys critical time until ambulance crews arrive

By installing a bleed kit, venues are showing real leadership and responsibility. It sends a clear message: your safety matters here.

We encourage other pubs, bars and clubs to follow the example of these proactive venues. A small addition to your premises could make an immeasurable difference in an emergency.

Huge credit to these two responsible venues who are stepping up and enhancing the safety of their customers and wider community by installing Bleed Control Kits 👏🩸(Both venues also now has a defibrillator next to the bleed kits)

Let’s work together to create safer nights out for everyone 🍻❤️

Get yours here www.heartsafe.org.uk

14/02/2026

🚉❤️ Bleed Control Kits at Railway Stations – Why They Matter ❤️🚉

Railway stations are some of the busiest public spaces in our communities. Thousands of people pass through every day — commuters, families, tourists, staff and contractors. With that footfall comes responsibility.

In the event of a serious injury, catastrophic bleeding can become life-threatening within minutes ⏳

That’s where Bleed Control Kits make a real difference.

🩸 Immediate response saves lives – These kits are designed to help control severe blood loss before emergency services arrive.

📍 Accessible & visible – Installed alongside defibrillators or in clearly marked cabinets, they provide quick access in critical moments.

👥 Designed for the public – You don’t need to be a medic. With simple instructions and easy-to-use equipment like trauma dressings and tourniquets, bystanders can step in and help.

🚑 Bridging the gap – Ambulance crews do an incredible job, but those first few minutes are crucial. A bleed kit buys precious time.

Rail networks already lead the way with public access defibrillators — adding bleed control kits creates a more complete emergency response point, protecting passengers and staff alike.

Preparedness isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about being ready to protect life when it matters most.

Because at a railway station, help needs to be as fast as the trains. 🚄

12/02/2026

Great news for Bath...

Thanks to the incredible support of the local community, three more bleed kits have now been installed across the city, helping to make our public spaces even safer for everyone.

A message from Julie at the Bloomfield Bath Residents’ Association who funded the kits:

"The Bloomfield Bath Residents' Association takes road safety very seriously; it is why we came together 5 years ago. We have the most productive Community SpeedWatch Unit in BANES and, using that data, we have successfully lobbied the Council for traffic calming measures designed to improve pedestrian and cycle safety. Applying for Bleed Kits stationed at intervals along the road did seem the next logical step. Working with the Avon and Somerset Police Bleed Kit Partnership and, with the support of 3 of our Ward Councillors along with donations, we have been able to mount units at convenient locations along the 2 kilometre long road for a one-off payment. I would encourage community groups all over the Force area to consider an initiative similar to our own."

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. Together we’re building safer, stronger communities across Bath and beyond.

11/02/2026

If your organisation already has a HeartSafe branded defibrillator, you’ve taken a huge step towards protecting your community.

But have you thought about making it a complete emergency response station?

By adding a HeartSafe Bleed Control Kit mounted neatly alongside your defibrillator cabinet, you create an all-in-one lifesaving hub — ready to respond to both cardiac arrest and catastrophic bleeding.

A cardiac arrest requires immediate defibrillation.
Severe blood loss can become fatal in minutes.

Both emergencies rely on one thing: rapid action before ambulance crews arrive.

Mounting a bleed kit next to your defibrillator:

• Keeps all critical equipment in one clearly visible location
• Makes access simple and intuitive during high-stress moments
• Maximises the impact of your existing HeartSafe installation
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to community safety

Many organisations — schools, gyms, workplaces, community centres and sports clubs — are now upgrading their defibrillator sites to create fully equipped emergency stations.

If you’ve already invested in a HeartSafe defibrillator, why not take the next step?

Turn it into a complete lifesaving point.
One location. Two critical interventions. Countless lives protected.

For more information on bleed kits and how to order, visit:
www.heartsafe.org.uk/bleed-kit-homepage/

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Key statements

09/02/2026

Every school plans for fire drills. Every school prepares for medical emergencies like asthma attacks or allergic reactions. But there’s one critical emergency that many people don’t think about — catastrophic bleeding.

Severe blood loss can become life-threatening in just a matter of minutes. In those first few moments before ambulance crews arrive, the actions of staff or bystanders can make the difference between life and death.

That’s why Bleed Control Kits in schools are so important.

These kits are designed to be used by anyone — not just medical professionals. They contain simple, life-saving equipment such as trauma dressings, haemostatic dressings, gloves and tourniquets, alongside clear instructions. With basic awareness and confidence, a teacher, member of staff, or even a responsible older student could step in and help control bleeding until paramedics arrive.

Bleed kits are not about fear — they’re about preparedness.

Schools are community hubs. They host hundreds, sometimes thousands, of young people and staff every day. Accidents happen. Serious injuries, although rare, can occur in PE lessons, technology workshops, on playing fields, or during unforeseen incidents. Having immediate access to bleed control equipment ensures that a school is ready to respond swiftly and effectively.

Preparedness saves lives.
Education builds confidence.
Access to the right equipment buys precious time.

Get a bleed kit for your school today 🆘

www.heartsafe.org.uk/shop/bleed-kit-model-2/

07/02/2026

A set of educational videos has been produced to inform the public on the effective use of the HeartSafe Bleed Control Kit to manage life-threatening blood loss before the arrival of ambulance services.

These videos have been carefully designed to be clear, practical and reassuring, breaking down what can feel like a frightening situation into simple, manageable steps. They demonstrate how to recognise catastrophic bleeding, how to prioritise safety, and how to act quickly and confidently using the contents of the kit.

Viewers are guided through:
• How to apply direct pressure effectively
• The correct use of wound dressings and trauma bandages
• When and how to apply a tourniquet
• The importance of calling 999 immediately and providing clear information
• How to continue care until professional help arrives

Importantly, the videos emphasise that you do not need to be a medical professional to save a life. Severe bleeding can lead to death within minutes, but early intervention by a bystander can dramatically improve survival outcomes. The aim is to empower ordinary members of the public with the knowledge and confidence to step forward in an emergency.

A huge thank you to UCS College Group for producing these in conjunction with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Watch here ‼️

www.heartsafe.org.uk/bleed-kit-training-videos/

Welcome To OurBleed Control Kit Training Videos A set of educational videos has been produced to inform the public on the effective use of the HeartSafe Ble ...