People have an opportunity tomorrow to learn the skills needed to save a life at the first of three special first aid courses being run in Felixstowe.

Leading first aid charity St John Ambulance is holding the subsidised essential all-age community first aid training courses at the St John Ambulance Hall, Ataka Road.

In addition to tomorrow’s course, there will also be sessions on March 18 and April 23, all of them from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

Essential First Aid focuses on a range of emergency situations involving infants and children, as well as those involving adults. These include communication and casualty care; looking after yourself and the casualty; adult, child and infant resuscitation; treatment of severe bleeding and chest pain; treatment of choking in adults, children and infants; and treatment of an unconscious casualty.

There are 20 places available on each course – for those aged 12 and above – and the cost is £10, reduced from the usual £30. Anyone aged 16 or under must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Steve Gallant, manager of St John Ambulance’s Felixstowe Unit, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring these first aid courses to the local community and also to be able to offer them at this subsidised rate.

“First aid is not difficult to learn and, equipped with these skills, you could potentially be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

“We have ambitious plans at the unit this year and I would also like to encourage local people to step forward and volunteer to train as first aiders. Why not book a place on one of our subsidised courses, learn a number of first aid techniques and even see if you could spare a few hours a month to volunteer for the charity?”

All attendees who meet the training requirements will be awarded a first aid certificate which is valid for three years and will also take away a first aid reference guide.

For more information and to book a place please call 01245 291301 or send an email to east-training@sja.org.uk