Alarmed by the increase of reported knife crimes in recent times Sandwell Irish Community Association approached The Daniel Baird Foundation to enquire about purchasing bleed kits to be stored inside each of their defibrillators. They had funded and arranged for the installation of defibrillators to be sited at both Barnford Park, Oldbury and Langley Park, Oldbury in 2019. This was part of a joint enterprise between the Friends of Barnford Park, Langley Traders and Sandwell Irish Community Association.
Quick access to a defibrillator can be the difference between life and death, just as access to a bleed control kit in the event of injury can.
The Daniel Baird Foundation was set up by the family of Daniel Baird who, at just 26 years of age, was fatally stabbed in the early hours of 8 July 2017, outside The Forge Tavern, Digbeth in Birmingham following a night out with friends. There was no first aid or bleeding control kit available. Dan died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding.
His family stated “Dan was out with his friends having a good time. His life should not have ended in this tragic way. Had there been a public accessible bleeding control pack available Dan may still be with us. We believe that having publicly accessible bleeding control packs in all major shopping centres, pubs/clubs, public transport stations, all public buildings is a priority given the current risk from extremists, terrorists and the increasing rise in knife and violent crime. Our aim is to reduce and stop knife crime as no family should have to feel this pain.”
The Foundation, and in particular Dan’s dad who is from Dublin himself, were delighted when they heard about Sandwell Irish’s intentions and very kindly donated two Prometheus Bleed Control Kits to us.
Both The Foundation and Prometheus believe Sandwell Irish Community Association to be the first organisation in Britain to install bleed kits within defibrillators.
As Jenny Price from Sandwell Irish Society told Irish in Briton “We think this is worthy of a shout out if only to encourage others to do the same.”
To find out more about the Daniel Baird Foundation and the importance of bleed kits click here.