LIFE-SAVING bleed kits have been donated to another four venues in Leigh thanks to the tireless work of a campaigning grandmother.
Julie Taylor lost her grandson, Liam Taylor, who was just 19, after he was stabbed to death outside a pub in Writtle in January 2020.
Three men were later jailed for his murder, with the judge describing the killing as “callous and brutal”.
Following his tragic death, The Liam Taylor Legacy was set up in his memory by his grandmother. The charity raises money to fund bleed control kits to be used to save lives across the county and beyond.
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On Friday, Julie joined Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, to deliver a further four bleed kits in Leigh. These were funded by a donation by the Leigh Lions ,and given to The Crooked Billet, Sarah Moore, Thames Breeze, and The Boat Yard.
Julie said: “I want them absolutely everywhere.
“The bags and units shouldn’t be in places that are more than three minutes apart - because that’s how long it can take to bleed to death.
“People’s generosity in helping to fund these kits is incredible. I hope the kits could save another family going through what we have - and still are going through.
“We don’t ever want these bleed kits to be needed, but if they save a life it will mean the world to me.”
The kits, which cost £104 each, contain gloves, scissors, a foil blanket, a mouthguard for giving CPR, a trauma dressing, a chest seal, a pack bandage, and a tourniquet.
Julie added: “We choose these locations as they are busy venues on busy roads where potential incidents and accidents could happen. They aren’t always just for stab victims but also for any catastrophic bleeds.
“It is just an honour to be able to raise funds for these kits as I am so aware of how needed they are.
“It makes me proud every time we can donate a bleed kit in Liam’s loving memory.”
In May, one of these bleed kits donated by Julie was actually used by staff at Moo Moo Clubrooms on Warrior Square, in Southend, after two men were stabbed.
Both men were taken to hospital with stab wounds, but police confirmed they are both recovering well.
Anna Firth, MP for Southend West, joined Julie to support her campaign to get bleed-control bags into premises across south Essex.
Ms Firth has campaigned for greater awareness, criminalisation, and policing around knives.
She said: “No one should have to go through what Julie and her family have experienced, but she has been an incredible beacon for good in her work on supplying bleed bag kits around Essex and the UK.
“Julie is an example of selfless community action. Her tireless campaigning and fundraising has supplied more than 200 bleed control bags.
“I want to see these bags in every licensed premises and every police car across the country.”
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