Assembly calls for the rollout of bus bleed kits across London

Young Londoners are disproportionately affected by serious violence, particularly knife crime.  They are also more likely to use the bus.

Catastrophic bleeding can result in death within minutes, and immediate intervention is often the determining factor in survival.

The London Assembly, working with the London Youth Assembly has today, agreed a motion calling on Transport for London to work with the London Ambulance Service to install publicly accessible bleed control kits in all major bus stations, ensuring they are clearly signposted and unlocked for emergency use.

It is also calling for training and awareness to be developed, including first aid training for bus drivers and frontline staff, to ensure confidence in responding to catastrophic bleeding emergencies.

Elly Baker AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“I want to thank the London Youth Assembly for bringing this important issue forward and for their continued leadership on keeping young Londoners safe.

“Bleed control kits can save lives, and we would like to understand how they could work on London’s bus network. 

“That is why we are calling on TfL to work with the London Ambulance Service to trial them on selected routes and at major bus stations."

Andrew Boff AM, who seconded the motion, said:

“The London Youth Assembly has done such vital work to advocate for bleed kits in London to save lives and prevent avoidable deaths from knife violence - and to that end, I wish to thank them. 

“Today’s motion is about making London safer, especially young Londoners, and to be able to support that is the sort of work the Assembly should be doing.”

The full text of the motion is:

The Assembly welcomes and thanks the London Youth Assembly for their strong advocacy in support of rolling out bleed kits on buses across London.

The Assembly notes: 

• That catastrophic bleeding can result in death within minutes, and immediate intervention is often the determining factor in survival. 
• That community organisations, including the Daniel Baird Foundation and the Caridon Foundation, have demonstrated the life-saving impact of publicly accessible bleed control kits, particularly in areas affected by violent crime. 
• That London’s buses and bus stations are vital public spaces which transport millions of people daily. 
• That young Londoners are more likely to use the bus and are disproportionately affected by serious violence, particularly knife crime. 

The Assembly calls on Transport for London to work with the London Ambulance Service to: 

1. Install publicly accessible bleed control kits in all major bus stations, ensuring they are clearly signposted and unlocked for emergency use.
2. Pilot the installation of bleed control kits on selected London bus routes, prioritising those serving areas with higher levels of serious violence.
3. Develop a training and awareness offer, including first aid training for bus drivers and frontline staff, to ensure confidence in responding to catastrophic bleeding emergencies.
4. Publish a plan and timeline for a broader roll-out should an evaluation of the pilot develop an evidence base for this.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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