Shoppers taught life-saving skills

Antoinette Mupeta getting some liffe saving tips from Laurence Brennand of St John Ambulance

Shoppers were taught valuable life-saving skills at a special St John Ambulance workshop in Rochdale Exchange shopping centre.

First aid trainer Laurence Brennand, a schools and community’s trainer with St John Ambulance, ran a drop in session, demonstrating resuscitation techniques and other emergency procedures such as what to do if a person is choking.

He was passing on his vital first aid knowledge as part of the St John Ambulance ‘Save a Life’ September campaign, which is fronted by comedian Rufus Hound.

Now in its fifth year, the St John Ambulance ‘Save a Life’ September project teaches thousands of people essential skills for free through demonstrations at major venues such as shopping centres, train stations, stadiums, and town centres.

It also distributes free first aid guides so everyone can remember the key ways to save a life.

Laurence praised Rochdale shoppers for the tremendous feedback they had given him and the interest they showed in the demonstration.

He said: “They have all been genuinely interested in the important work St John Ambulance does and asked about how they can go on to further first aid courses.

“I would say that at least three quarters of them took away the details about how to sign up for one of our courses.”

Laurence joined St John Ambulance just over a year ago after he needed to learn first aid as part of his role as an instructor with Stockport Air Cadets.

He said: “I realised immediately what a valuable skill first aid is to have.

“No matter how old or young you are, knowing what to do in an emergency really can save someone’s life. That was shown only this week with the news story about a six-year-old girl who saved her mum when she fell into a diabetic coma.”

As a St John Ambulance community trainer Laurence specialises in travelling to schools around the North West teaching first aid to pupils.

He said: “It really is the best job I have ever had. The skills we teach them will stay with them for the rest of their lives and who knows when they might need them.

“We have a lot of fun in the classes, with children learning how to bandage up a wound properly and similar skills. But we also teach them how to act quickly and effectively in a crisis.”

Among those interested in Laurence’s demonstration at Exchange Shopping Centre was student Antoinette Mupepa, 18, of Wardle, Rochdale, who is studying on a public services course.

She said: “My aim is to work with people so having first aid knowledge will be a real asset for me. I think everyone should learn at least the basic first aid skills so they don’t panic should an emergency situation occur.

“I was just popping in for a few things when I saw the St John Ambulance demonstration.

“It immediately caught my attention so I went up to ask about more details. Doing events like this in public places is an excellent idea because it increases people’s awareness about the need to have first aid skills.”

Anoinette was shown how to do CPR chest compressions and place people in a recovery position.

She said: “I definitely recommend people learn first aid skills and I will advise my college friends to consider taking a course.”

St John Ambulance Learn a Lesson for Life pocket guides are also available to the public pressing home the first aid message. The little booklets include information about what to do if someone is choking, severely bleeding, collapses or appears to be having a heart attack.

The 2015 Save a Life September campaign also includes a video posted on the St John Ambulance website in which comic actor Rufus Hound is seen as a teacher having to cope with an array of classroom disasters.

The video is delivered in an amusing way but drives home a very serious message.
Laurence said: “St John Ambulance first aid courses are open to anyone and they take place at destinations all around the north west.

“All people have to do is to visit our website to find a venue local to them. There are contact details on the website and information about how to enrol on a course.”

The website address is www.sja.org.uk or for more information people can also contact the St John Ambulance regional headquarters by calling 0161 4430 100.