First Minister John Swinney backs grieving Edinburgh mum's campaign for bleed-kits across Scotland
John Swinney is rolling out bleed kits across Scotland
Bleed-control kits are to be rolled out in communities across Scotland following a campaign by the grieving mother of a young man who was stabbed to death in Leith.
First Minister John Swinney announced the commitment in parliament today, paying tribute to Lisa Petrie and describing her campaign as “inspirational”.
Lisa’s 22 year old son, John Mcnab was stabbed to death in Leith last September.
Since his death, Lisa has campaigned to make bleed kits more widely available. The kits contain equipment designed to help control severe bleeding until emergency services arrive.
Her campaign has seen bleed kits rolled out in Edinburgh, with councils and organisations backing efforts to make the potentially life saving equipment more accessible.
Speaking in Holyrood, Mr Swinney said: “And in recognition of the inspirational campaign of Lisa Petrie, whose son died in September last year, we will roll out bleed kits to community settings across Scotland.”
He also said the Scottish Government would build on victim and witness legislation to ensure victims are “heard, supported and protected" and treated with compassion.
Lisa’s campaign has focussed on ensuring people have access to potentially life saving equipment in critical minutes before an ambulance arrives.
On Tuesday, Lisa gave an emotional speech at the opening ceremony of the Knife Angel in Kirkgate, Leith.
As she bravely kept her head held high, she said: “And when that knife took John's life, it didn't just take John, it devastated our whole family.”
The announcement marks a major step forward in her efforts to ensure her son's death leads to change and that other families do not experience the same loss.