Schools across Sheffield are beginning to stock specialist medical kits designed to stop catastrophic bleeding, following a determined campaign by knife safety advocates, including the family of a teenager murdered on school grounds.
A Legacy Forged in Tragedy
The push for the widespread introduction of these bleed kits gained powerful momentum after the death of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose. Harvey was fatally stabbed by a fellow pupil, Mohammed Umar Khan, at All Saints Catholic High School in February of this year.
Khan, who was also 15, had brought a 13cm hunting knife into the school. He was later found guilty of murder at Sheffield Crown Court and sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison.
Harvey's mother, Caroline Willgoose, told Sky News that while it is unknown if a kit would have saved her son, the affordable equipment undoubtedly saves lives. "We don't know the answer to if there had been one in place [at Harvey's school] whether that would have saved Harvey," she said, "but it's affordable and it does save people's lives."
Affordable Kits for Hostile Environments
The lightweight bleed kits contain advanced first-aid equipment such as tourniquets and trauma bandages. Similar to those used by paramedics and in war zones, they are designed to provide immediate, critical care for severe bleeding before emergency services can arrive.
On Monday 17 November 2025, campaigners, including the Willgoose family, gathered at Hind House School in Sheffield to present one of the first kits. The event marked the start of the rollout across the city's schools, with Harvey's own school also agreeing to have a kit on site.
Daniel Cross, headteacher of Hind House School, stated that the school "absolutely has to be on board with it" if the kits can help save a child's life. He described Harvey's death as a tragedy that sent "echoes of sadness across the city" and praised the life-saving potential of his legacy.
Training and a Sense of Security
Both staff and selected students at participating schools will receive first-aid training on how to use the kits. The kits also advise users to call 999, where an operator can talk them through the process.
The initiative has been met with a mix of apprehension and relief by pupils. Harry Billard, 14, acknowledged the grim reality that "some people are stupid enough to make the dumb decision to bring a knife into school," but said the kit could potentially save a life.
Fellow student Hellen Ngoako, 12, admitted she felt "a bit nervous" initially but now believes the kit makes her feel safer. She added that Harvey's story has spread vital awareness throughout Sheffield about what can happen in schools.
Caroline Willgoose noted a growing public awareness of the knife crime problem, with more parents now demanding preventative measures like knife arches and bleed kits in all UK schools.
