Lichfield District Council’s ‘Stop The Bleed’ training provides life-saving skills

The ‘Stop The Bleed’ session, held Tuesday 1 April, welcomed representatives from organisations including Bromford, Betterway Recovery, Lichfield City Council, Burntwood Town Council, Platinum Boxing, Tesco, Liberty Jamboree and Lichfield District Councillors.

Participants were taught how to apply pressure to and pack a wound and improvise a tourniquet to halt the flow of blood.

The session was led by Sir Keith Porter, a retired trauma surgeon and co-founder of the charity Citizen Aid. The charity focuses on empowering people with practical knowledge to help themselves and others in incidents involving multiple casualties.

Sir Keith explained that simple actions taken in the first few minutes can be the difference between life and death.

He said: “We designed the Stop The Bleed concept using techniques that are tried and tested and served my colleagues during the Afghan war and it is timely that with the worrying incidents of knife crime we learn simple first aid skills.

“I was privileged to be here in Lichfield today with a multi-disciplinary group of people who will now take away life-saving skills and hopefully disseminate them to their colleagues at work and wider communities.”

Yvonne James, Lichfield District Council’s Principal Community Safety Officer, said: “The Community Safety Team at Lichfield District Council led the Knife Angel anti-violence campaign in 2023 and as a result introduced knife bins and began the roll out of bleed kits and training.

“This session is part of a continued effort to spread basic knowledge of this life-saving skill to our residents and organisations, and as it’s a ‘train the trainer’ course those who have the gained the skill can pass it on their colleagues, friends and service users ensuring we get as much training out there as possible.”

Gemma Davis, Neighborhood coach for Bromford, added: “Working in collaboration with the Lichfield District Community Safety Partnership, Bromford supported the Knife Angel campaign.

“So, when we were invited to attend the Stop The Bleed session, it was an honour to meet Professor Sir Keith Porter who ran this course.

“He educated us on what to do in the event of a severe bleed, be it from a knife wound, a kitchen accident, a terror incident or stabbing etc.

“I have come away feeling educated and confident in knowing what to do in such circumstances. Knowing the basics can and does save lives.”