St John Ambulance Gloucestershire

NEWS RELEASE
5 December, 2011 Community Courses on offer from St John Ambulance Gloucestershire

Gloucestershires leading first aid charity has unveiled a suite of community first aid courses aimed at encouraging more people to learn the basic skills that can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved in 2012.

St John Ambulance will hold courses at centres in Staverton, Stroud, Bourton on the Water, Tewkesbury and Coleford throughout the year to give as many people as possible the opportunity to learn life saving first aid skills.
The Essential First Aid course last three hours caters for all ages from 10 upwards. It covers the main first aid scenarios for children and adults including choking, severe bleeding, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, dealing with an unconscious casualty and fractures, sprains and strains, head injuries and other situations you may face. It costs just 30.

Research carried out by St John Ambulance in 2010 showed that up to 150,000 people* die every year in situations where first aid could have made the difference. Around 58%** people wouldn't know what to do if faced with a medical emergency and a quarter would do nothing. Jim Jones, Schools Community and Youth Development Co-ordinator, said: Learning first aid is one of the single most important things you can do in your life. You never know when you may need it at work, at home, in school, playing sport you just dont know. But if you know basic first aid, anyone can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved and what could be more important than saving someones life? These courses are designed to make learning first aid easy and fun and there is something to suit everyone. And 30 is a small price to pay to be able to save someones life. Courses will be held at Staverton on 28 January, 18 February, 24 March, 28 April, 19 May, 30 June, 7 July, 11 August, 29 September, 27 October and 24 November. At Stroud courses will be hosted on 11 February, 21 April, 9 June, 18 August, and 6 October. Other dates include 3 March at Bourton on the Water, 2 June at Coleford and 1 September at Tewkesbury. To book a place one of the courses or for more information contact 01452 858220 or email jim.jones@glos.sja.org.uk.

St John Ambulance Gloucestershire

NEWS RELEASE
ENDS
Photo: St John Ambulance volunteer Catherine Bates gives some first aid training to Alexandra (7) and Gabriella (5) Barry at the Regent Arcade in Cheltenham

To find out more about this story or to interview a spokesperson please contact Chloe Moorhead, County Fundraising and Media Manager on 07854 891151 or

chloe.moorhead@glos.sja.org.uk
Notes to editors

As the nations leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance believes that nobody should die because they needed first aid and didnt get it. Yet every year, up to 150,000* people die in situations where first aid could have given them a chance to live. St John Ambulance teaches people first aid so that they can be the difference. *Using death registration data from the Office of National Statistics, 2008 (for England and Wales), April 2010. ** Research conducted by ICM, February 2010, using a weighted sample of 2045 adults aged 18+. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. In 2010 in Gloucestershire 693 SJA volunteers carried out 120,387 hours of first aid, training and other work in the county St John Ambulance in Gloucestershire has training venues at Staverton, Coleford, Stroud, Tewkesbury, and Bourton-on-the-Water. It also runs on-site courses for 10 people or more. For information about St John Ambulance please call 01452 858220 or visit www.sja.org.uk/gloucesteshire