More than 300 taxis in Plymouth are now equipped with emergency bleed kits, making the city one of the most prepared in the UK when it comes to immediate trauma response.
The rollout, led by the charity RAPAID and supported by Babcock International Group, took place at Plymouth Train Station’s taxi rank, where a further 200 kits were handed out to drivers.
The initiative is part of a national push to equip everyday vehicles with trauma kits capable of treating victims of stabbing, crashes, or serious injuries during the critical minutes before emergency services arrive.
The kits contain professional-grade bandages designed to stop catastrophic bleeding and are intended to be used by trained taxi drivers in the event of an emergency. Taxis carrying them display a green RAPAID window sticker, indicating that they are a source of help in a life-threatening situation.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Plymouth City Council, attended the event and praised the partnership. She said:
“The distribution of emergency bandages to taxis across Plymouth could be the difference in saving someone’s life. This is such a fantastic initiative and although I hope they are never needed it is reassuring to see life saving equipment readily available to the public in those vital first moments.”
The project is supported financially and logistically by Babcock International, one of Plymouth’s largest employers. Volunteers from Babcock were on site helping to distribute the kits to local drivers.
John Gane, Managing Director at Babcock’s Devonport facility, said the company was proud to play its part. He said:
“As one of Plymouth’s largest employers, we play an important role in the city and, in line with our purpose of creating a safe and secure world, we are proud to support RAPAID to ensure that local taxis are equipped with this important kit that may save someone’s life.
"Thanks to the volunteers for their support and to the charity for the fantastic work they are delivering across the country to keep people safe.”
RAPAID’s founder, Alex Chivers, a former police firearms officer and military veteran, created the charity to fill the gap between injury and ambulance arrival.
“It can take just five minutes to bleed to death”, said Mr Chivers. “The quicker direct pressure is applied and treatment begins, the better the chance of survival. Taxi cabs move throughout the city day and night and anyone who sees the RAPAID green sticker can flag down that vehicle and get immediate help.”
Over 6,000 taxis across the UK have now been fitted with RAPAID kits. Plymouth remains one of the leading cities for deployment thanks to the continued support of its taxi community and Babcock’s regional presence.
“I would like to thank the taxi drivers. Without their support we could not do any of this,” said Mr Chivers. “Alongside a range of other initiatives already in place across the city, we are helping make Plymouth a safer and more resilient place.”
The kits are available to both private and Hackney carriage operators.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.rapaid.org.
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