Youth group funds bleed kits at leisure centres

News imageCity of Wolverhampton Council Sienna Ahir, Member of Youth Parliament and founder of Daggers Down, and councillor Obaida Ahmed stand by one of the kits at WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams. Sienna has a red t-shirt on with Daggers Down on it and Obaida has a headscarf on over a striped shirt. City of Wolverhampton Council
Sienna Ahir (left) said her organisation had funded the kits

Lifesaving bleed control kits have been installed in three council-run leisure centres through an organisation set up by a Wolverhampton Youth MP.

Sienna Ahir established Daggers Down to promote an anti‑crime message in a city that has recorded several shootings and knife incidents in recent years.

She said the group had raised money to pay for the kits which "can be the difference between life and death" and they were available at WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams and WV Active Central.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed thanked Ahir for the efforts in getting the kits and raising awareness of the importance of the equipment.

The kits contain special bandages and a tourniquet designed to treat catastrophic bleeding and they also provide a phone link to the emergency services who can provide help and advice until paramedics arrive, the council says.

"Daggers Down aims to make these kits more widely available across Wolverhampton," Ahir said.

"We've raised money for 15 bleed control kits which are available for the public 24/7 – and we don't plan to stop there."

Ahmed, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and community, said: "These bleed control kits are an important addition to our WV Active centres and could help save lives in the event of a serious incident involving catastrophic bleeding.

"While we all hope they are never needed, having this equipment readily available means staff and members of the public can access potentially lifesaving support while emergency services are on their way."

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