Anthony Peltier with a bleed kit

A CAMPAIGNER is calling for businesses and schools to install bleed kits.

Anthony Peltier, an ex-headteacher who now works for the Shaquan Sammy-Plummer Foundation in Finsbury Park, says that bleed kits need to be destigmatised and embraced by everyone.

“Bleed kits aren’t just for knife crime. Over 7,000 people die a year of catastrophic bleeding in the home, in the garden, on the street after a fall. People have died of catastrophic bleeds in an office,” said Mr Peltier.

A bleed kit is a simple first aid kit with six items specifically designed to deal with an injury that’s causing heavy bleeding.

“Most people aren’t worried about knife crime because they’ve never been a victim or their children aren’t at risk of becoming victims. When you’ve got somebody who’s got a business on Highgate Hill, for example, that’s an affluent area, they’re not worried about knife crime. But, it’s not about knife crime, it’s about catastrophic bleed management,” he said.

The foundation was set up by Finsbury Park resident Jessica Plummer, whose son, Shaquan Sammy-Plummer, was murdered at a party in Enfield in January 2015.

“It’s about making a change, isn’t it? It’s not always about knife crime. A child could fall and hurt their head, and that could save their life,” said Ms Plummer.

The foundation is offering training for a small donation to anyone who gets a bleed kit, which are priced at £80.
When it comes to knife crime, Mr Peltier is calling for a broader conversation.

“Knife crime isn’t just a young black person’s problem, it’s a societal problem. It’s still being promoted as a black problem. They put black men on TV saying ‘I’ve been stabbed eight times and now I’m stopping knife crime.’ I’ve never been stabbed and I’m still stopping knife crime. I won’t stop until bleed kits are everywhere,” he said.