Blood control kits donated to two Lymington pubs in wake of Max Maguire's death
A FORMER military police officer has donated two lifesaving bleed-control kits to pubs in Lymington following the fatal stabbing of young dad Max Maguire.
Calvin Brewer said they can be used to give first aid to someone who has been severely injured and losing lots of blood – giving them a chance to survive until paramedics arrive.
Max (23) collapsed and died in the town in October after an altercation in the Royal British Legion off High Street. Two men are due to stand trial charged with his murder next year.
The Six Bells pub and the Kings Arms now have the bleed control kits behind the bar, thanks to Mr Brewer.
Mr Brewer said on social media: “Never going to be a good or nice time to post this, so firstly my thoughts are with all those affected by this kind of thing, I know it will be close to many people’s hearts here now.
“I know we are tucked away down here at the bottom of the map, but I wanted to ensure that should anyone have a severe bleed in the future, there would be at least a fighting chance to save them.”
Mr Brewer said that blood control kits in public places had been the idea of mother Lynne Baird who lost her 26-year-old son Daniel to knife crime in a pub fight in Birmingham pub in 2017.
Despite people trying to help, Daniel lost so much blood he died before he could be taken to hospital.
Mrs Baird told the A&T Mr Brewer’s actions were “a fantastic gesture”, adding: “They could well save lives. Calvin has been a great supporter of the foundation. He told me he was devastated at what had happened in your area.
“At the moment we have 3,000 blood loss kits in public places and around 250 cabinets. The cabinets were only launched last year so we are really pleased with that figure.
“It is not just knife crime where this equipment can save lives, it can be a road accident, being cut by glass, an accident in a pub kitchen. We have had incidences where the kits did save lives.”
Ms Baird launched the Daniel Baird Foundation within weeks of his death to raise awareness of the kits which contain a tourniquet, haemostatic gauze to clot a bleed quickly, trauma bandages, a chest seal, scissors, and gloves.
Thousands of pubs, supermarkets, schools, and other establishments all over the UK have them available for public access. For every kit sold through the foundation, £5 is donated to the charity.
Her campaign has been backed by the Home Office and police forces all over the country.
The kits have now been expanded to include bleed control cabinets which contain the equipment along with instructions. To open them people, ring 999 to obtain a code and receive support from emergency staff on the phone on how to use the kit.
For more information visit controlthebleed.org.uk
