Bleed kits installed in Chingford as campaign launches fundraiser

Two bleed control kits are now available to the public in Chingford after a local campaign installed them at the King Ford Wetherspoons pub and the Nationwide Building Society branch on Chingford Mount. The kits contain equipment to stop severe bleeding, including tourniquets, gauze and chest seals, before paramedics arrive.

The campaign, Bleed Kits Now, was founded by James Russell, who previously worked with the national group Binning Knives Saves Lives. Russell told the Waltham Forest Echo that the kits could save lives in the minutes after a stabbing or accident while waiting for an ambulance.

Fundraiser planned for 5 December

Bleed Kits Now will hold a ticketed fundraising event on Saturday 5 December at the Royal British Legion on Hall Lane, Chingford. The evening will include live entertainment, a raffle with prizes from local businesses and donated food. All proceeds will go towards buying more kits.

The campaign plans to donate the kits to the Daniel Baird Foundation, a registered charity that installs them in public spaces. Once installed, the kits are registered with emergency services, which can direct callers to the nearest one during an emergency.

Councillor advising on ward funding

Valley Ward councillor Afzal Akram is advising the campaign on securing ward funding. Local resident Gail Penfold has also provided guidance. The campaign is run on a non-profit basis, with all money raised going directly towards purchasing kits.

Residents can contact the campaign organisers, Andy and James, at bleedkitsnow@gmail.com for more information or to ask questions about the kits.