Now in my 20th year working for RCS England, my husband James and I are walking 100km along the Thames Path in support of their ambitious new programme STOP THE BLEED. It will train members of the public to control acute blood loss which remains the second highest cause of death in trauma victims.

Incidents are on the rise and underreported in the UK, with over 45,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2021 and over 4,000 hospital admissions due to assault with a sharp object.

Knife crime and injury are two of the most significant threats to young people. With the media reporting stabbing attempts in public places there is one related element - there are often witnesses and bystanders. This is where pre-hospital care can begin.

The College will use their large network of clinicians already experienced in trauma care to deliver training to local community groups and other public cohorts. The first step is ensuring these clinicians are trained and certified to deliver this training locally, in addition to supporting nationwide delivery of this certification with high fidelity training kits containing the essentials to run a Stop the Bleed session.

The ultimate aim is for non-medically trained civilians to know how to manage blood loss until emergency services arrive.

James & I would be enormously grateful of any support you can give for this vital College initiative. THANK YOU SO MUCH.