Pupils from a number of schools across Greater Manchester are being taught vital skills on how to potentially save the life of someone who is bleeding.
On 26 April, Greater Manchester piloted the country’s first ‘Stop the bleed’ day – a collaboration between Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit and first aid charity citizenAID.
The pilot includes 14 schools from across Greater Manchester, with the training delivered to students in years six and seven. Students will learn how to identify a life-threatening bleed, how to apply pressure, pack a wound, and use a torniquet.
A survey of 140 students undertaken as part of the project, revealed that only 10% of young people would be very confident in giving first aid to person who was bleeding, but 62% said they would like to learn more about how to stop a bleed.
Each school will be supported by volunteers including doctors, first aid trainers and personnel from the ambulance and fire and rescue services. Students will be shown an instructional film and practise what they have learned – improvising with everyday items that can be used to stop bleeding. The skills that young people will learn could be used in a number of scenarios including a stabbing, an accidental injury, a car accident or animal attack.
The VRU and citizenAID have worked closely with The Derby Academy in Bury to co-design the script for the film and test suitability for the audience. Young people from The Derby Academy even star in the film that will be shown across Greater Manchester.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: “A priority for the VRU’s work is early intervention to prevent situations where a young person is harmed or bleeding because of a deliberate attack. But unfortunately there are situations when this does happen, and therefore it is vital that young people know how to act.
“Stop the bleed day will provide young people with necessary skills to act quickly when someone is severely bleeding, which could ultimately save their life.
“Greater Manchester are proud to be piloting this project with citizenAID and look forward to sharing learning and best practice, so that young people across the country can learn these important skills.”
Sergeant Lisa Quinn of GMP’s Operation Venture – the team targeting serious violence – said: “The aim of today is to give young people potentially life-saving advice on how to stop traumatic bleeding.
“Injuries are the leading cause of death amongst children and young people under the age of 40 and bleeding is the single most preventable cause of death in cases where someone is injured; for example if they have been injured in a car accident or even if they have been a victim of knife crime.
“Operation Venture is working hard to reduce serious violence and I am pleased the figures show that knife crime fell across Greater Manchester by 3.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, however we know that much more needs to be done.
“Part of this involves educating young people, supporting them to make better choices and if necessary, giving them potentially life-saving advice should they ever need it.
“I hope they will never need it, but I am grateful to citizenAID and Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit for organising this event today. The lessons are invaluable and could be used in any walk of life where a person is injured and could very well save lives.”
