St John Ambulance brings free first aid demos to Birmingham New Street Station this weekend
The event is part of Save a Life September, St John Ambulance’s annual awareness campaign, aiming to share lifesaving skills with as many people as possible in Birmingham
Free first aid demonstrations and public challenges will take place at Birmingham New Street Station from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday as part of St John Ambulance’s Save a Life September campaign.
Volunteers from St John Ambulance’s Central & South Birmingham Network will be based beneath the departure boards, offering free CPR awareness activities and speaking with members of the public about how they can help in an emergency.
The event is part of Save a Life September, St John Ambulance’s annual awareness campaign. Throughout the month, trained volunteers provide free demonstrations and guidance to help people develop the knowledge and confidence to respond to choking, cardiac arrest and severe bleeding.
Teams from West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and University Hospitals Birmingham have also been invited to take part in a series of friendly endurance challenges. Members of the public will be able to participate and compare their efforts with those of emergency services, NHS staff and St John Ambulance volunteers. The event is free to attend, no booking is required and people of all ages are welcome.
A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. Early action by bystanders, including CPR and use of a defibrillator, can improve a person’s chance of survival while professional help is on the way. The Birmingham event aims to share these potentially lifesaving skills with as many people as possible.
Claire Harris, Network Community Lead (Engagement and Education) for St John Ambulance’s Central & South Birmingham Network, said:
“We've been really encouraged by the number of people who have stopped to speak to us over the last two weekends and taken the time to learn or refresh their lifesaving skills. A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time. While the target response time for a Category 1 ambulance call is eight minutes, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces a person's chance of survival, which is why bystanders can make such a vital difference.
The challenge is a bit of fun, but it helps start really important conversations about CPR and what people can do before professional help arrives. We'd love to see any healthcare professionals, emergency service colleagues and other frontline workers who are passing through New Street Station come and join us, have a go at the challenge and help us inspire even more people to learn these vital skills. Every person we teach is another person who could one day help save a life. Together, we can help more people feel prepared to act when every second counts.”
To find out more about the Save a Life September campaign and how St John Ambulance are putting the power of first aid into the hands of communities nationwide, please visit our website at sja.org.uk/save-a-life-september/.