Glasgow’s taxi drivers are helping save lives by carrying military-grade bandages that can stop people bleeding to death after an accident, fall or even a stabbing.
Rapaid bandages have already been installed in thousands of UK taxis which are identified with stickers on the front and rear windows. Cabs carrying them can be flagged down in an emergency and the bandages can stop someone bleeding to death from a serious wound.
Each kit supplied by the charity contains sealed emergency bandages with a built-in pressure pad and tourniquet and easy-to-follow instructions for anyone to apply.
Now Glasgow-founded taxi insurance specialist Patons Insurance has funded Rapaid kits for 50 cabs in the city. On March 21, Rapaid founder Alex Chivers distributed the lifesaving kits to drivers at Paton’s Charles Street base – and supportive drivers were queueing up for them.
Dougie McPherson, Glasgow Taxis chairman, said: “Glasgow’s taxi drivers have long been renowned for lending a helping hand to others and this initiative is just another example of this.
“All at Glasgow Taxis are proud to support the rollout of Rapaid emergency bandage kits across a number of vehicles within our fleet and, as the old cliché goes, if it helps just one person in the future it will have been more than worth it.
“As always, we are very grateful to all Glasgow Taxis staff, members and drivers for their support, not to mention founder Alex Chivers and all involved with Rapaid and Patons Insurance for inviting us to back their efforts.”
Rosie Gibson, Head of Operations at Patons Insurance, said: “People are usually closer to a taxi than to an ambulance and it makes sense to put these life-saving kits into as many cabs as possible.
“Patons was founded by Glasgow taxi drivers and we want to be able to help make a difference in our home city. As Dougie said, the hope is they will not be needed, but taxi drivers play a huge role in the community and are on the frontline, willing to help.”
Alex said: “With a serious haemorrhage, someone can bleed to death in less than five minutes. The quicker treatment begins, the better the chances of survival and this can stop severe bleeding instantly.
“We use the same military bandages designed for the battlefield and to have these bandage kits carried on taxis that are in and out of our community day and night can be the difference between life and death.
“We have more than 5,000 kits in several cities and Glasgow is our first in Scotland. We have had fantastic support from Dougie and the city’s drivers and are grateful to Patons for helping make it happen.”
For details, visit Rapaid Emergency Bandages: Charity With One Purpose, To Save Lives
