Two new bleed kits added to Oxford’s public safety network
The city council has installed two more publicly accessible emergency bleed control kits in Oxford, aiming to give members of the public immediate access to life‑saving equipment in the minutes before paramedics arrive.
The kits have been located at East Oxford Community Centre and at the row of shops on St Nicholas Road, Littlemore. They join four other publicly available kits already in place, taking the total in Oxford to six.
- East Oxford Community Centre
- St Nicholas Road shops, Littlemore
- Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre
- Barton Community Centre
- Underhill Circus
- Templars Square, Between Towns Road
The cabinets storing the kits are mounted on the outside of buildings in a similar way to public defibrillators. To access a kit, a member of the public should call 999 and request an ambulance; the ambulance service will then supply the access code to unlock the cabinet.
What is in a kit and why it matters
Each kit contains essential trauma supplies including tourniquets, trauma dressings, gauze, chest seals and gloves. Severe bleeding can lead to death within minutes if not controlled promptly, which is why rapid intervention by bystanders can be decisive.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of publicly accessible kits | 6 |
| Locations (high level) | Community centres, leisure centre, shopping parades, Templars Square |
| How to access | Call 999; ambulance service provides cabinet code |
Community event underlined the need
The latest installs were marked by a free performance of the play Motherhood at East Oxford Community Centre. Written and performed by Claire Nelson, the solo show explores the impact of knife crime on parents and was presented alongside Stories That Hit Home, a series of pieces by local people affected by knife crime.
"In an emergency, every second counts. While I hope that these bleed kits are never needed, it is reassuring to know that they are there and could be the difference between life and death," said Councillor Lubna Arshad, cabinet member for a safer Oxford.
Organisers used the event to demonstrate the bleed kits and give attendees information about how they can be used should they ever be required. Funding for the community performances and the Stories That Hit Home project came from Thames Valley Police, organisers said.
"I'm so pleased that funding from Thames Valley Police for the Stories That Hit Home project has enabled more publicly accessible bleed kits for Oxford," said Claire Nelson.
What this means for Oxford residents
The expansion of publicly accessible bleed kits is a practical step to strengthen immediate community response to severe bleeding incidents. By placing equipment in community centres and busy local shopping areas, the council is aiming to reduce the time before someone can apply tourniquets or dress wounds — actions that can keep a casualty alive until emergency services take over.
Residents should be aware the kits are not unlocked without contacting the ambulance service, and that use of the kits requires basic first‑aid understanding. The council’s announcement included guidance about calling 999 first so that ambulance staff can also support the caller with instructions and provide the cabinet code.
For now, the move has been welcomed by local officials and community artists alike as a practical measure that sits alongside broader efforts to address the human impact of violent crime in the city. The council said it is proud to be expanding the locations of these bleed kits across Oxford and to be working to help make the city safer for everyone.
Residents interested in training or further information on the location and use of the kits should contact their local community centre or the city council for details.
