Bleed kits plea for London buses rejected by TfL

Transport for London (TfL) has rejected calls from the London Assembly for bleed control kits to be installed on parts of the bus network in the capital.

The politicians believe the kits could potentially be used to save the lives of victims of violent crimes if they were available at bus stations and on routes.

The kits contain special emergency first aid equipment such as tourniquets, chest seals and gauzes and are designed to stem heavy bleeding from injuries before emergency services arrive.

However, TfL's commissioner Andy Lord said he believed the kits were only useful with appropriate training and standard first aid kits were sufficient if used by bystanders in emergencies.

The proposal was formed along with London's Youth Assembly and in March, a motion was passed calling on TfL to install the kits.

However, in a letter to London Assembly chair Andrew Boff, Lord said there was a "risk of significant harm" if tourniquets, which are usually included in bleed kits, were not used correctly.

"The NHS recommends that the most important and effective bystander intervention is to apply continuous direct pressure to the site of bleeding and call 999 immediately," Lord wrote.

"Based on this expert advice, we are not currently planning to roll out or promote bleed kits across our network."

He added that all TfL stations and staffed bus stations were equipped with standard first aid kits.

Dr Lynne Baird MBE, whose son Daniel was fatally stabbed in 2017, criticised the decision and said training was not needed to use bleed control kits.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "They are very simple and straightforward.

"Many other public transport methods have put these into operation... first aid kits alone are just not good enough."

Elly Baker, the Labour Assembly Member who proposed the motion, said she was "disappointed" TfL had rejected the idea and said: "I will continue to press TfL on this matter."

Hundreds of bleed control kits have been rolled out across the West Midlands in recent years, but they have not been widely replicated in the capital.

Alex Wilson AM, Leader of Reform UK on the London Assembly, said Lord's response to the motion was "insulting to all Londoners".

"In the West Midlands, this is understood and accepted, which is why bleed kits are readily available in public areas – London should not be behind on this."

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