Edinburgh taxis to carry emergency bandages for public safety
- Perry Richardson
- 50 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Taxi drivers in Edinburgh are joining efforts to improve public safety by carrying emergency bandages that can help control serious bleeding after accidents or violent incidents.
Two hundred Central Taxis vehicles across the city have been fitted with the kits, supplied by Oxfordshire-based charity RAPAID. Each participating cab displays a window sticker so the public knows they can flag it down and access first aid support in an emergency.
The RAPAID emergency bandage kits are designed to treat severe bleeding quickly, potentially saving lives in the crucial minutes before medical help arrives. They can be used in road accidents, major incidents, or cases of knife crime where blood loss poses an immediate danger.
The project has been made possible through funding from Babcock International Group, the defence and engineering company that supported the distribution of the kits to Edinburgh’s black cabs.
A spokesperson for Central Taxis said the partnership adds an extra layer of community safety to the city’s licensed taxi fleet, putting trained drivers in a position to assist the public when it matters most.
RAPAID’s initiative has already been rolled out in several UK cities, placing emergency bandages in taxis and business vehicles to create a mobile first-response network. The charity’s goal is to make lifesaving equipment widely accessible in the event of serious injury before emergency services arrive.
By partnering with Central Taxis, RAPAID aims to bring that same rapid response capability to Edinburgh, with cab drivers now able to act as an early link in the chain of survival across the capital.
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector, said: “Supporting this vital initiative, which puts lifesaving equipment directly into the heart of our community, reflects our ongoing commitment to safety and community wellbeing. At Babcock, safety is at the core of everything we do and helping to make Edinburgh an even safer place through practical, accessible solutions like these bandage kits, is something we’re honoured to be part of.”
Founder of the charity, Alex Chivers, a Special Forces veteran and former police firearms officer, has installed thousands of the bandage kits in taxi cabs across the UK.
Chivers said: “Taxi cabs are constantly moving around our community. It takes just five minutes to bleed to death from a serious haemorrhage, so the quicker treatment begins, the better your chances of survival – time literally saves lives.
“Cab drivers who carry the kits do not need to be trained – they are carrying the bandages for the public to use until help arrives.”
Kevin Wood, Chairman of Central taxis and the Scottish Taxi Association, said: “Central Taxis’ drivers are very proud to support this important initiative. As part of the city’s everyday infrastructure, our taxis operate across all areas of Edinburgh and are often present where incidents may occur. By carrying these bandages, we can help the public respond quickly in those crucial first moments before emergency services arrive – another way we’re helping to keep our community safe.”
