Rhamero West: First bleed safety cabinet installed in Manchester to help save lives in memory of murdered teen

Manchester’s first bleed safety cabinet has been installed by the family of teenage murder victim Rhamero West.

The device is for public use in the event of someone being stabbed and seriously injured and aims to stem the blood flow and potentially save lives.

It has been installed by the family of 16-year-old Rhamero, who was fatally stabbed in Old Trafford last September, and they are going to put more of them around Manchester.

They have also started a foundation in Rhamero’s memory and say they want his life which was so brutally cut short to make a difference by creating a safer environment for young people to grow up in.

What is a bleed safety cabinet and where has Manchester’s first one been installed?

A bleed safety cabinet is a piece of medical equipment which can be used by the public if someone has been stabbed and suffered serious injuries.

It contains instructions on how to help control a bleed as well as several pieces of equipment to use, depending on where on the body the person has been stabbed.

The first one in Manchester has been installed at The Place library in Fallowfield.

Rhamero’s family are now hoping to place one in Old Trafford and then to do further fund-raising for more cabinets.

In addition BrightHR, Peninsula and Health Assured, where Rhamero’s cousin Deanne Brown has worked but is now leaving to study criminology and psychology at Arden University, has agreed to fund three more in Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme.

Each bleed safety cabinet costs £600 to order and install. They are personalised with Rhamero’s face and the slogan: “Enough is enough, put down the knives. Save our kids’ lives”.

What has been said about the installation of the bleed safety cabinet?

Deanne said: “We’re delighted to have raised enough money to install this first cabinet in Manchester. It’s so important to get early intervention and help save a life before the emergency response team arrive on site.

“A second cabinet will be placed in Old Trafford, hopefully by the end of March, and we’re raising money for more to go up throughout the city.

“Taxis carry bleed kits, but nobody knows about them. It’s so important to have publicly-accessible cabinets around the city and we’re proud to have installed the very first one in Mero’s memory.”

What else is Rhamero’s family doing in his memory?

Rhamero’s family is determined that his life will make a difference and has set up a foundation in his memory called Mero’s World which aims to make Manchester a safer place for children to grow up.

Monthly awareness walks campaigning for change and safer streets, a social media campaign and community fund-raising efforts have all been launched.

The family’s eventual aim is to have a bleed safety cabinet installed in every district across the city.

And Deanne is so determined to create a strong legacy for Rhamero that she has decided to change career.

She said: “For me, it’s not just about raising awareness, we also need to educate people - parents as well as children.

“I’ve got a five-year-old son and it’s massively impacted him.

“We’re determined that Mero’s life will make a difference when it comes to creating a safer future for young children as well.

“I’m excited about taking this step and doing my part to help ensure other families don’t have to go through the pain that we have.”

Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, said: “We’re very sorry to lose Deanne but so proud of how she has turned her family’s tragedy into an opportunity to make a real difference.

“Everyone at BrightHR and the Peninsula Group is so proud of everything she is doing to help make the streets safer, in memory of her cousin. Deanne has been a fantastic employee and will be a big loss to the company.

“In recognition of her hard work and incredible contribution to us over the last seven years, BrightHR, Peninsula and Health Assured will each donate the cost of a bleed safer kit.

“I look forward to seeing her achieve great things in the future.”