A local campaign has begun in Luton to install public access critical bleed kits and raise awareness of how to use them after the recent fatal stabbing of a teenager.
What the campaign aims to do
The Facebook group Luton Keeping Safe, in partnership with the Akhirah Project charity, has started a crowdfunding drive to buy and position kit cabinets around the town. The organisers say the aim is to ensure lifesaving supplies are available quickly at public locations and that residents know how to use them.
“If it even saves one life, that's the mission complete for us. We can’t lose another life.”
The group’s administrator, Askar Khan, told InfoRadar many people were not aware bleed kits already exist in some parts of Luton and that there was, he said, a kit located close to Kingsway Park that people did not know about.
What is in a bleed kit and why they matter
Critical bleed kits contain items designed to stop catastrophic blood loss within minutes of severe injury. Typical contents include a tourniquet, haemostatic gauze and a trauma dressing. Campaigners stress the kits are not only for stab wounds but also useful for serious incidents such as road traffic collisions or animal bites.
Fundraising progress and costs
The fundraising drive set a target to secure 10 bleed kits to distribute across Luton. In the first two days more than £1,300 was donated — enough, organisers say, to fund at least two kits.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| One bleed kit with secure cabinet | £520 |
| Donations received (first two days) | £1,300+ |
The quoted price of a complete kit includes a secure cabinet intended to keep the equipment available 24 hours a day.
Training and wider community work
Beyond purchasing kits, the group wants to offer training sessions so residents know how to apply the equipment under pressure. Plans include providing instruction in a range of languages to reach diverse communities in Luton. The organisers also plan to support youth boxing clubs and other local projects aimed at vulnerable young people.
- Campaign started by Luton Keeping Safe with Akhirah Project
- More than £1,300 raised in two days — funds to buy at least two kits
- Each kit with cabinet costs about £520
The push follows a previous effort in 2024 by Wingman Mentors, a not‑for‑profit that positioned bleed kits in the town after their own fundraising drive. Campaigners say improved visibility of kit locations, coupled with training, will increase the chances of bystanders providing effective first aid before emergency services arrive.
Those wishing to contribute to the fundraiser have been invited to donate via the organisers’ online page.
