Ramsey Town Commissioners have hosted a first aid training session delivered by St John Ambulance volunteers.

Held in the town hall boardroom, the session was part of St John Ambulance’s Save a Life (SAL) 1000 programme launched in September 2014 which aims to deliver free essential life-saving skills to 1000 Isle of Man residents over a period of three years.

The two-hour session included training in recovery, control of bleeding, CPR and primary survey (to assess life-threatening injuries or conditions).

Commercial training and marketing manager Phil Bennett said: ‘The SAL initiative has been very well received and we’ve been encouraged by the response from organisations and businesses island-wide who have generously made their premises available. These free sessions have been made all the more financially viable for us thanks to Celton Manx, from which we received a Recognition award earlier this year, and we’re now rapidly approaching the half-way mark in our 1000 target.’

Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Lawrie Hooper said: ‘The Commissioners were pleased to make the boardroom available for the session. St John Ambulance is to be commended for raising awareness of the importance of first aid knowledge through its Save a Life 1000 scheme. The easy-to-follow techniques provide basic life-saving skills which could well be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.’

A typical session runs from 7 to 9pm. To find out more about Save a Life 1000, call Phil Bennett, 674387 or follow St John Ambulance Isle of Man on Facebook.

Photo - Janice Vorster of St John Ambulance with Vicky Maroney. Picture Andrew Barton.