Best Bar None, the safer socialising accreditation for the nighttime economy, is equipping 10 of its members in Plymouth with bleed kits from emergency bandages charity, RAPAID.
Best Bar None is an accreditation scheme supported by the Home Office, the drinks industry, and the hospitality sector, which aims to promote responsible management and operation of alcohol-licensed premises to keep people safer while they socialise.
Catherine Macdonald, Best Bar None’s Plymouth Coordinator, first heard about RAPAID’s potentially life-saving bleed kits when the charity visited Plymouth to donate RAPAID kits to taxis outside Plymouth train station. Plymouth is the latest city to benefit from RAPAID’s plan to equip taxis with their bleed kits, which contain military-style bandages in a paramedic grade, anti-microbial bag. RAPAID’s Plymouth campaign, which has the support of Johnny Mercer MP, follows roll outs in London, Manchester, Exeter, Swindon, and the charity’s home city of Oxford.
After reviewing a range of bleed kits, Catherine decided that the RAPAID kits were the best choice for Plymouth’s bars. The organisation was impressed with the long, eight-year shelf life of the RAPAID kits, alongside their quick and easy usage, with individuals requiring no medical training to use one. Best Bar None purchased RAPAID kits for ten of their venues, including the student union building at Plymouth University and Revolution.
Catherine said: “We heard about the donation day and what RAPAID are doing to make Plymouth a safer place, and we thought it was fantastic.
“Keeping customers safe in bars and nightclubs is the most important thing for venues, and having RAPAID kits installed in as many Best Bar None certified bars and venues as possible is a great way to support that goal. All the bar andvenue managers we’ve spoken to about it are very much on board with having the kits in their bar or club, because they have seen accidents and incidents in the past where these bleed kits could have helped massively.
“It’s a brilliant initiative, and the more we can support the safety of our community, the better.”
RAPAID is a charity and Best Bar None’s decision to purchase RAPAID kits means that the purchase price will be ploughed the back into making more kits for deployment in taxis in Plymouth, London, and around the UK.
Regan O’Riley, Deputy General manager at Revolution Plymouth, commented: “We want people to have a great night out in the bar and to know that this is a safe space for socialising. Having the RAPAID kit available means that if there is ever an accident or incident involving a serious bleed, we’re equipped to stop the bleed quickly and easily until the emergency services arrive.
“With Martyn’s Law approaching, resilience and planning to ensure we’re prepared should something happen has never been more important and we’re grateful to Best Bar None and RAPAID for helping us do that.”
RAPAID’s co-founder, Alex Chivers, travelled to Plymouth to thank Catherine and Best Bar None for choosing RAPAID, delivering the RAPAID kits personally and talking Catherine and Regan through the kit and how it is used.
Alex said: “We’re delighted to be able to support Best Bar None in their mission to improve safety in Plymouth’s nightlife scene. By having RAPAID kits in these bars and clubs, staff and customers can feel more secure, knowing that immediate first aid is available should anything go wrong. It’s a huge step forward in keeping our communities safer.”
Any bars, clubs, venues of businesses that would like their own RAPAID emergency bandages kits, can purchase one at the charity’s online shop. Donations to the charity can also be made online.
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