St Johns Ambulance providing first aid instructions

The charity are holding instruction events IN the Diamond Centre and throughout the province for 'Save a Life September'

"140,000 people in the UK die each year where possibly first aid may have helped save that individual's life."  That's just the first glaring statistic about first aid in the UK relayed by Consultant Surgeon Mr Mark Taylor.  "Unfortunately only one in ten of our population have the skills needed to save a life" is the second one.

Make this the month you learn how to #savealife

Visit https://t.co/syVmqeY5Cn pic.twitter.com/nj8WydxnVB

— St John Ambulance (@stjohnambulance) 15 September 2016

St John's Ambulance have been doing their best to change those two statistics over the course of September.  'Save a Life September' has seen the first aid  charity host several awareness events and education initiatives throughout the whole province.  

On Friday the 30th September, St John's Ambulance will be holding a series of demonstrations in shopping centres throughout Northern Ireland.  The events are free of charge, and the ambulance instructors will be providing advice on everything from CPR to dealing with serious bleeding.

"We would encourage as many people to get involved" said Mr Taylor "that's the core of what Save a Life September is all about".  St Johns ambulance want to imbue people with the basic skills that can mean the difference between life and death.

It's Save a Life September, so make this the month you learn how to #savealife. Watch and RT this video on treating a heart attack pic.twitter.com/8kohiOPo84

— St John Ambulance (@stjohnambulance) 27 September 2016

Teaching first aid skills is certainly a start, but something else St Johns hope to help is to imbue people with the confidence to use those skills if needed.  "If very nerve inducing" said Mr Taylor "It's about teaching people that you will not induce further harm by using these simple techniques"

A full list of where and when the demonstrations will take place is shown below:

Richmond Centre, Londonderry - 11am until 3pm on Thursday 29 September

Forestside Shopping Centre – 11am until 3pm on Friday 30 September

The Quays Shopping Centre, Newry – 12 noon until 4pm on Friday 30 September

The Diamond Shopping Centre, Coleraine – 11am until 3pm on Friday 30 September

Erneside Shopping Centre, Enniskillen – 11am until 3pm on Friday 30 September