The London Assembly has proposed having the kits at all major bus stations and on board services on selected routes
Transport for London (TfL) must install lifesaving bleed control kits in all major bus stations and on selected bus routes in areas of serious violence, the London Assembly has proposed.
Assembly Members unanimously passed a motion calling on TfL to work with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to ensure the kits, which stem bleeding from deep wounds or stabs before emergency services arrive on the scene, are available.
The proposal also called for training and awareness to be rolled out across the transport network, including first aid training for bus drivers and frontline staff, to ensure confidence in responding to catastrophic bleeding emergencies.
Elly Baker, the Labour group’s transport spokesperson who proposed the motion, said: “In many places on our transport network we have installed defibrillators, which are hugely useful for obviously saving lives, but let’s face it, are more likely to be used for older Londoners.
“Young Londoners feel that a wider rollout of bleed kits on the transport network, including our buses – which are used so frequently by young people – would be beneficial for emergency situations.
“I’ve heard too often from young people that they don’t always feel as safe as they should do travelling. Passing this motion will show that we are listening to young people and backing the investigation of a potentially valuable method of saving lives.”
Ms Baker said the matter was brought to the Assembly’s attention by members of the London Youth Assembly (LYA).
LYA Chair Hugo Maxwell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “These kits are already in lots of Underground stations but buses are the mode of transport most used by young people and therefore it’s essential that we start the rollout there.
“Hopefully a pilot scheme will allow us to assess the costs and challenges of this project.
“This is a really low-cost, high-reward strategy. It’s something that can be rolled out quickly and kits are very cheap. This is one of the most efficient ways to help save people’s lives (in London).”
Deputy Chair Mia Mormah added: “The Mayor has already done so much to help improve the safety of Londoners from every borough, but now it’s important that we address young people’s safety.
“Not only does it make young people feel safer, it gives them better confidence to travel on public transport and feel safer in our city.”
The motion is non-binding, meaning the Mayor is not obligated to accept or implement the recommendation.
Reform UK Assembly Member Keith Prince backed the motion but said he was afraid it “will be falling on deaf ears and that the Mayor will reject this very sensible idea of having a kit that can save someone’s life”.
In 2024, when Mr Prince questioned Sir Sadiq Khan on the issue, the Mayor said specialist kits were “not essential” for bleed control.
“The NHS strongly advocates for all people living and working in London to undertake basic training and become more confident in providing first aid, including bleed control,” he added at the time.
“The NHS position statement published on the LAS’s website states that the contents of standard first aid kits are sufficient for the majority of bleeding wounds and, where there is no first aid kit provision, improvisation with simple everyday materials can save lives.
“The NHS highlights that the effective use of bleed kits requires appropriate training and there is a risk of significant harm if tourniquets, which are usually included in bleed kits, are not used correctly.
“Based on this expert advice, TfL is not currently planning to roll out or promote bleed kits across its network.”
The Mayor’s office, TfL and LAS were contacted for comment.
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