Life-saving Bleed Prevention Kits will now be installed at every Essex fire station following new funding from Essex County Council to complete a countywide roll-out aimed at saving lives.

The latest phase of the programme was marked with the installation of a new Bleed Prevention Kit at Ingatestone Fire Station.

There are already 25 Bleed Prevention Kits in place at fire stations across the county. 

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.

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.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has worked alongside campaigner Julie Taylor, founder of The Liam Taylor Legacy, 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 and Julie Taylor, founder of The Liam Taylor Legacy

Julie founded The Liam Taylor Legacy in honour of her grandson Liam, 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 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.

In an emergency, members of the public can access a kit by calling 999, where Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Control Room operators will provide guidance on retrieval and use.

Julie and her family have worked to fundraise for as many bleed kits as possible to be installed and recently Julie’s granddaughter Olivia ran 10k to raise enough funds for three bleed kits to be installed. 

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.”

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Transformation and Economic Growth at Essex County Council said: “Bleed prevention kits can make the difference between life and death.

“We hope they are never needed, but when an emergency happens, having the right equipment close at hand can save precious minutes – and lives.

“This investment builds on our funding for 60 bleed kits in public spaces across Essex, bringing our total commitment to more than £20,000.

“Alongside community safety workshops for young people, it reflects our determination to give residents practical support and build safer communities across Essex.”

Roger Hirst MBE, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:  “We have long worked in partnership with Julie Taylor, whose determination and commitment continue to make a real difference to communities across Essex. Her work through The Liam Taylor Legacy has helped turn personal tragedy into practical action that will save lives.  

“There can never be any complacency when it comes to knife crime. The impact on communities, families and loved ones where knife-related crimes have claimed victims is long-lasting. That is why beating knife crime is one of my central priorities. 

“Our collaborative work with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, Essex County Council and our partners to expand this programme will now see Bleed Prevention Kits available at every Essex fire station.  

“Fire stations are trusted community assets at the heart of our cities, towns and villages. By placing this life-saving equipment in accessible locations and supporting members of the public to act in an emergency, we are strengthening our collective ability to keep Essex communities safe and secure.” 

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.”