ACT Medical is revolutionising the response to knife wounds.

Our founder, Joseph Bentley, developed REACT during his final year at Loughborough University, after seeing the suffering caused by knife crime. The potential to solve this challenge and save thousands of lives led to the creation of ACT Medical.

ACT Medical is a MedTech start-up looking to revolutionise the standard of care for penetrative trauma and reduce the mortality rates associated with violent crime.

“Two of my friends were stabbed on the streets of London”

Our Story

5 people are killed by knife crime in the UK every week 1

Globally, nearly 1.5 million deaths occur every year due to violence induced uncontrolled haemorrhaging.2 In most cases, mortality from stabbings is caused by haemorrhage induced hypovolemic shock, the treatment for this is to stop the bleeding as soon as possible.3 In London, it takes 7 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, but only 5 minutes for a victim to bleed to death. 4, 5 Consequently, half of all violent trauma related deaths occur before the patient is able to reach definitive care.6 Generally, the public or police first responders on the scene will have tried to limit as much blood-loss as possible, though they are very rarely equipped to do this successfully.

Equipping first responders saves lives

Providing first responders with a method of applying direct pressure to the wound site would drastically reduce the trauma mortality rate. This method needs to be intuitive, without knowledge of complex techniques such as wound packing, and easy to remove once the patient reaches surgery. ACT Medical are designing a device that directly addresses this need and aims to stem bleeding as quickly as current methods.

“This type of problem-solving invention shows the significant impact engineers can have on serious, global issues, and is why I created the James Dyson Award.”

— Sir James Dyson, presenting his International Award to ACT Medical in 2021

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Interning at ACT Medical
Interning at ACT Medical

Jodie has spent the last 2 months working as a User Research Intern at ACT, here she shares her experiences.

Forging Connections: Meeting with End Users in Baltimore
Forging Connections: Meeting with End Users in Baltimore

Recently, we had the privilege of being invited by one of our clinical advisors to build connections with end users in Baltimore, and the experience was nothing short of transformative.

Double Triumph at Generation Next Awards
Double Triumph at Generation Next Awards

Joseph Bentley and Emma Priestley, two members of the ACT team, were shortlisted for a combined total of four categories. After an incredibly well organised and inspiring event, ACT came away with two awards!

ACT Relocates to Net-Zero Carbon Workspace
ACT Relocates to Net-Zero Carbon Workspace

Last week marked an exciting milestone for ACT Medical as we relocated to a brand-new office space within the vibrant and eco-conscious Hope Street Yard.

Knife and Gun Crime Rates Continue to Rise
Knife and Gun Crime Rates Continue to Rise

Incidences of knife and gun crime have been on the rise in recent years. This blog post discusses some key statistics, as well as the factors contributing to the rise and what is being done to address this.

Current Advice for Stopping Bleeding
Current Advice for Stopping Bleeding

In England and Wales last year, there were over 45,000 knife crime offences. If you witness a knife attack, having the knowledge to stop the bleeding could allow you to save a life.

  • 1. Shaw, D. and Butcher, B. (2019). Ten charts on the rise of knife crime in England and Wales. BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42749089 (Accessed 7th October 2022)

    2. Spahn, D. et al. (2013). Management of bleeding and coagulopathy following major trauma: an updated European guideline. 17(2):R76. doi: 10.1186/cc12685. PMID: 23601765

    3. Donley, E. and Loyd, J. (2022). Hemorrhage Control. StatPearls Publishing.  PMID: 30571014.

    4. NHS England (2022). The New Ambulance Standards [online]. NHS England. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/new-ambulance-standards-easy-read.pdf (Accessed 7th October 2022)

    5. Stop the Bleed (2022). Stop the Bleed [online]. Homeland Security. Available at: https://www.dhs.gov/stopthebleed (Accessed 7th October 2022)

    6. Kauvar, David S. MD; Lefering, Rolf PhD; Wade, Charles E. PhD. (2006). Impact of Hemorrhage on Trauma Outcome: An Overview of Epidemiology, Clinical Presentations, and Therapeutic Considerations. The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care: Volume 60 - Issue 6 - p S3-S11 doi: 10.1097/01.ta.0000199961.02677.19