A FREE lifesaving first aid training opportunity has been introduced to help teach people how to perform CPR correctly.

The Save a Life September campaign is rolling out on the back of some new research by the health charity which showed that only 43% of people would know how to do CPR to save someone in cardiac arrest and less than 32% of people would know how to use a defibrillator.

With more than 26% surveyed saying they had never learned any first aid, the top three first aid skills respondents wanted to learn were CPR, choking and severe bleeds.

St John’s has adapted its free community first aid sessions throughout September to tech these techniques via demonstrations in public places around the country during September, through online sessions and by giving away free first aid pocket guides. 

The charity hopes to reach 50,000 people through these methods.

Held across the UK, five sessions will be held in Somerset on the following dates that are free to attend.

7 September – 10am-12pm – Merryfield Hall, Copse Lane, Ilton TA19 9HG

14 September – 10am-2pm – Jenny's Cafe and Bistro, 38A Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PT

14 September – 10am-3pm – Wells Market Place, Wells BA5 2SG

21 September – 9am-2pm – High Street, Wellington (outside postal sorting office)

21 September – 10am-4pm – Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG.

St John Ambulance head of community education, Carl Makins, said: “This September we plan to show thousands of members of the public how to save lives, focusing on the first aid that they most want to learn. 

“Tragically, due to the rise in knife crime, it feels particularly relevant to be teaching people how to treat severe blood loss. 

“It’s vital more of us within our communities know how to respond to the life-threatening situations which many of us will sadly face in our lives.

“There are nearly 300 deaths a year due to choking, yet more than half of us don’t know how to give back blows to clear someone’s airway. 

“We also know that giving CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someone’s chance of survival. 

“It’s so often those quick actions taken by people who find themselves first on scene in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives, that make the difference between life and death.”