Bleed kits, commonly used by paramedics and in hostile environments like war zones, are being distributed across schools in Sheffield today.
Essentially an advanced first-aid kit, the lightweight packs contain items like a tourniquet and trauma bandages.
Knife safety campaigners, including the parents of murdered Sheffield schoolboy Harvey Willgoose, believe the “affordable” kits should be introduced to all UK schools to “save” lives.
“We don’t know the answer to if there had been one in place [at Harvey’s school] whether that would have saved Harvey,” his mother Caroline Willgoose told Sky News’ Katerina Vittozzi, “but it’s affordable and it does save people’s lives.”
Harvey, who was 15 when he was killed, was stabbed by a fellow pupil at All Saints Catholic High School in February this year.
Mohammed Umar Khan, also 15, had brought a 13cm hunting knife into school with him that day.
He was found guilty of Harvey’s murder and sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
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The Willgoose family, along with other knife safety campaigners, gathered at Hind House School in Sheffield on Monday to present a bleed kit to staff and pupils.
Harvey’s school have also agreed to have a bleed kit on site.
“I think people know that there is a problem with knives now,” Mrs Willgoose adds, “and it’s been more and more, and parents are wanting knife arches and bleed kits in schools.”
Although it is not within official Department of Education guidance to have a bleed kit on school grounds, and a fatal stabbing on school grounds is rare, Hind House headteacher Daniel Cross told Sky News that “we absolutely have to be on board with it” if the kits can “help save a child’s life.”
“Harvey’s tragic death is something that had echoes of sadness across the city,” he added, “and if his legacy can save one child’s life… then it’s a legacy well lived, really, and we’re really proud to be part of that movement.”
Both staff and some students at this school will be given first-aid training on how to use the bleed kit, which also advises anyone who needs to use it to call 999 where an operator will talk them through its use.
Pupil Harry Billard, 14, said that “some people are stupid enough to make the dumb decision to bring a knife into school, and if someone did get stabbed, then that bleed kit could potentially save their life.”
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Fellow student Hellen Ngoako, 12, said she felt “a bit nervous” when she first heard that her school was getting a bleed kit.
“Obviously, it’s really big,” she added, “people are bringing knives into school.”
She believes that “Harvey’s story has spread awareness around Sheffield about what could happen in schools” – but that having the bleed kit “makes me feel safe”.
