170 UK ice hockey teams welcome the delivery of bleed control kits

Following the ice hockey incident on 28 October 2023 where Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson sadly lost his life, Erin Rose – sports therapist for The Raiders NIHL team – mobilised ‘Adam’s Angels’ to raise money for enough The Daniel Baird Foundation bleed control kits for 170 ice hockey teams across the UK.

Teams supplied with the life-saving equipment include those in the Elite League, National League, NIHL North 1, NIHL South 1, NIHL North 2, NIHL South 2, SNL, Para (including both GB teams), WNIHL Elite, WNIHL 1 and WNIHL 2, plus all Junior, Great Britain, Scotland National and England National Teams. 113 kits have been delivered and the remaining ones will be dispatched over the coming weeks.

In less than two weeks after Adam Johnson’s accident, enough sponsorship and funding had been pledged to Adam’s Angels, so Erin placed an order for the first 106 kits, which are Ambulance Service developed and approved. £5 from every bleed control kit goes to support The Daniel Baird Foundation.

Erin explains: “A couple of days after the sad news of Adam’s death, I was compelled to try and do something. The whole ice hockey community was deeply affected and having witnessed some serious cuts on the ice myself, now had to be the time to bring some peace of mind to players and their families. The response through the therapy directory I set up and a social media campaign was beyond overwhelming, and I was able to speak to the bleed kit supplier within a week or so to place the order for 106 bleed control kits – one for each of the men’s and women’s National and Elite League teams within the UK. From there Adam’s Angels was born.

“On behalf of the 170 UK ice hockey teams that now have the kit which can control a catastrophic bleed and save someone’s live, I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of Adam’s Angels. Without them and their kind donations and sponsorship from the wider hockey community this wouldn’t have been possible. Now when the teams play their next matches, Adam and his team of Angels will be on the bench should an accident happen.”  

Dr Lynne Baird MBE, founder of The Daniel Baird Foundation, said:

“It’s wonderful how so many sponsors and donors have come together in a short space of time to mark the sad passing of Adam with something very positive, making ice hockey a safer sport. We are grateful that Erin chose to purchase our Ambulance Service approved and registerable bleed control kits as the £5 donation per kit helps us to continue our important work to get vital bleed kits into publicly accessible places and venues. We wish Adam’s Angels lots of luck in raising more money for things like first aid training.”

Erin had the idea because of the immediate success she saw in establishing a therapy directory to help UK ice hockey teams find therapy and medical support. A role with Deeside Dragons was filled within a few hours so she was sure the same collaborative approach would work to raise funds for medical equipment. The support for Adam’s Angels has been so extensive that as the first kits were being delivered, enough money was raised to supply all UK Junior teams with bleed control kits and donations are still pouring in. People who wish to donate can do so on Erin Rose’s Adam’s Angels Just Giving page. The future aim is to support ice hockey teams in gaining higher levels of first aid training and to provide even more lifesaving equipment. Adam’s Angels is exploring official charity registration.

The Daniel Baird Foundation bleed control kit was developed by West Midlands Ambulance Service, leading consultants from the Trauma Network and The Daniel Baird Foundation. The kit of medical equipment can control a catastrophic bleed and be easily used by the public.

Erin continued: “It’s also wonderful to be able to support The Daniel Baird Foundation at the same time as they work hard to get these vital bleed control kits into as many publicly accessible places possible. The charity already has a special place in the hearts of one of my players at The Raiders and his family as he recently received one of the kits from a family.”

The Daniel Baird Foundation charity was set up by the family of Daniel Baird who at 26 years of age was fatally stabbed outside The Forge Tavern, Digbeth in Birmingham following a night out with friends in 2017. There was no first aid or bleeding control kit available. Dan died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding.

The charity aims to raise awareness of the importance of having publicly accessible bleeding control packs available. It works closely with local government organisations, community groups and business organisations to get these vital bleed control kits into as many venues as possible. It also campaigns for First Aid Training to incorporate catastrophic bleeding control as a mandatory element of the training and to have Advanced First Aid in the curriculum of all educational establishments.

Contents of The Daniel Baird Foundation Bleed Control Kit: