'I'm proud to give out bleed kits in dad's memory'

2 hours ago

Sarah Brinicombe,in Dartfordand

Patrick Barlow,South East

News image — Matt Lane has supplied bleed control kits across Kent after the death of his father

Sarah Brinicombe / BBC Matt Lane standing next to a red bleed control kit. He has his hands in his coats pockets and is looking at the camera. The kit is mounted on a brick wall. — Matt Lane has supplied bleed control kits across Kent after the death of his father

A man who supplies bleed first aid kits to communities after the death of his father says it "gives him pride" to be able to help people in his memory.

Matt Lane, from Dartford, says he has supplied more than 40 bleed kits and cabinets across Kent after starting the project years after the death of his father, Steve, who was stabbed and killed in their front garden.

Lane, 46, who won a BBC Make a Difference Award for his work last year, said he hoped the kits would help to save others who have been stabbed and those who have suffered other injuries.

He said: "When my dad died I felt very helpless. I remember wanting to help but not being able to."

Bleed kits are boxes containing first aid supplies which can help to treat someone who is seriously bleeding, such as if they have been stabbed or been involved in a road accident.

Lane added: "I feel like you have to have something happen in your life to spur you on to do these things, and without the death of my dad I don't think I would be doing these kits.

"It gives me pride knowing he is on each of the cabinets so I get to see him regularly. I think it's a good thing that I am doing."

Lane, who was two days shy of his 13th birthday when his father died, began providing the bleed kits after rediscovering details of the emergency service response to his death.

Matt Lane An old colour photo of a family of four stood in front of a red-brick house. — Matt's father, Steve, died two days before his 13th birthday

The kits, including items such as tourniquets and bandages, are designed to provide initial care before emergency services arrive.

They are designed to be placed in publicly available spaces, in a similar way to community defibrillators. If needed, members of the public can be talked through how to use the kits by emergency call operators before paramedics arrive.

In 2025, Lane won the Great Neighbour category of the Make a Difference Awards, admitting he did not know who had nominated him.

To nominate someone for any of the eight categories, visit the Make a Difference site which will close for nominations at 17:00 BST on 31 March.

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