ACT Medical talks knife crime on Crimewatch Live
Joseph was introduced to Crimewatch viewers as the inventor of an award-winning life-saving device created to treat victims of knife crime.
His appearance on the long-running BBC show came the month after winning the UK James Dyson Award and the device was presented as a stabbing response for police and first responders to stop bleeding from knife wounds.
Asked by presenter Michelle Ackerley how it had felt to win the accolade, Joseph replied: “It was amazing.
“As a designer I’ve spent a long time looking up to the James Dyson Award and all these incredible projects that it recognises.
“Seeing an international winner some years ago inspired me to go to Loughborough and it doesn’t feel real to have won this stage of the competition.”
Joseph went on to win the International Medical James Dyson Award - the first time a Med-Tech category had been introduced.
How the Med-Tech device works
Joseph noted that the target response time for an ambulance in London was seven minutes yet that it could take only five minutes for blood loss to lead to the death of a stabbing victim.
Used by a first responder from a 999 call, the device can save lives by using an inflating silicon balloon to fill and apply direct internal pressure to puncture wounds.
Joseph pointed out that wound packing was the common treatment for applying pressure to prevent blood loss, but that when removed it could lead to further bleeding as blood clotting is removed.
Michelle, also a presenter on The One Show, noted that this means that the gauze typically used for ‘wound packing’ would no longer be required.
Demonstrating our concept device
Joseph showed how the device could be utilised in just 30 seconds, prompting Michelle to comment on the speed at which it could stop bleeding.
Joseph reflected on two friends who had ben stabbed as the motivation of developing ACT Medical, as well as incidents that were in the news on the day that the programme was broadcast.
The Crimewatch experience was one of several made by Joseph on the BBC over the course of 2021 and 2022. As well as articles on ACT Medical’s success featuring on the BBC website, Joseph also demonstrated our device in front of millions of viewers of BBC Breakfast.
ACT Medical’s award-winning medical device aims to save the lives of stabbing victims by stemming bleeding from knife wounds. Follow ACT Medical on LinkedIn for latest updates or email hello@actmedical.co.uk to speak to us directly.