LIFE-saving Bleed Prevention Kits will now be installed at every Essex fire station following new funding from Essex County Council.
Anti-knife crime campaigner Julie Taylor founded The Liam Taylor Legacy in memory of her grandson, who was tragically killed in Writtle in 2020.
Determined to save lives in Liam’s name, Julie pursued the idea of bleed kits, which are designed to help control severe bleeding in emergencies – such as road traffic collisions, serious falls or other traumatic injuries – in the critical minutes before emergency services arrive.
Each kit contains specialist trauma equipment including advanced dressings, chest seals and a tourniquet, alongside protective and resuscitation equipment.
Bleed Prevention Kits are also located in around 650 public places across Essex, including pubs, bars, community venues and visitor attractions, helping ensure life-saving equipment is available where people gather.
There are already 25 Bleed Prevention Kits in place at fire stations across the county – but Julie was determined to see Bleed Prevention Kits installed at all 50 fire stations in Essex.
The new funding from Essex County Council means Essex will become the first county in the UK to have a bleed prevention kit in every fire station, completing a countywide roll-out aimed at saving lives.
Julie Taylor, Founder of The Liam Taylor Legacy, said: “From the beginning, the aim of The Liam Taylor Legacy has been clear - to make sure people have the chance to help save a life in those first critical moments after a serious injury.
“Every additional Bleed Prevention Kit placed in a community is another opportunity to prevent tragedy. Seeing this initiative expand so that every Essex fire station will have a kit in place means Liam’s legacy will continue helping to protect others.
“This has only been possible because partners across Essex have come together with a shared determination to protect communities and give people the confidence and equipment to act when it matters most.
“I am incredibly proud to work alongside the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex County Council, and I thank them for their continued support as we work together to make Essex safer.”
Installation of the additional kits is being carried out free of charge by Maldon Building Services.
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Community supplying all Essex fire stations with life-saving bleed kits
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has worked alongside Julie, together with Essex County Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex to expand access to Bleed Prevention Kits for communities across Essex.
Karl Edwards, director of digital and infrastructure at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Julie Taylor’s tireless work continues to bring people from across Essex together to help save lives and keep communities safe.
“We are proud to support Julie and The Liam Taylor Legacy by using our fire stations as accessible locations for Bleed Prevention Kits.
“Our fire stations sit at the heart of local communities and are places people recognise and trust. By locating Bleed Prevention Kits at our stations, we are making life-saving equipment visible, accessible and available in an emergency.
“Our prevention work is central to what we do as a Service, and initiatives like this show how our fire stations can help protect communities alongside the emergency response we provide.”
