A LEISURE centre in Taunton is offering free CPR training next week in honour of Restart a Heart Day (October 16).

The free sessions will be led by a qualified first aid trainer and will take place at Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa, which is run by Everyone Active in partnership with Somerset Council.

There will be a number of slots available throughout the afternoon between 1pm and 4pm, each focused on how to carry out CPR and use a defibrillator when someone is having a cardiac arrest.

The lifesaving procedure can more than double someone’s chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which affects more than 30,0000 people every year in the UK.

Led by the Resuscitation Council UK, Restart a Heart Day is an annual initiative that aims to equip the nation with the knowledge and skills to save a life.

Ali Cottey, activity and wellbeing manager at Everyone Active, said: “We believe that everyone should have access to basic CPR skills.

“You never know when a medical emergency could happen, so being prepared is vital.

“That’s why we’re pleased to be hosting these free training sessions, and we hope to see many people from the local community attending to learn this lifesaving skill.”

Those wanting to attend can simply turn up and drop in to the sessions. Sessions are 1pm-2pm, 2pm-3pm and 3pm-4pm.