The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) announces a series of Save A Baby’s Life (SABL) courses.

Starting on Tuesday 4 September, the courses will continue on the first Tuesday of each month and are completely free to attend.

Recent reports suggest that the general public are lacking basic first aid skills and the confidence to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), in the case of an emergency.

With a recent episode of the ‘Loose Women’ TV programme also tackling the issue of infant first aid head-on, with a frank and candid real-life account of dealing with an infant choking – the need for these skills to be readily available, has never been greater.

Course graduate, Hollie Brett from Nottinghamshire recalls the horror of seeing her little boy stop breathing:

“I was enjoying some time with friends in a café and I had my son Oscar on my chair. I was feeding him some watermelon and he had broken part of it off, when he suddenly stopped making any noise. Before I knew what had happened, I’d slapped him on the back, the way I was taught on the course.

“Straight after, I was quite shocked and upset but my friends said I looked very calm at the time.

“All I know for sure is that, without that course, I don’t know what I would have done. I’d encourage anyone to take a course, you never know when you might need it. The course was free of charge but you’re encouraged to make a donation - at the end of the day…it saved my child’s life.”

RLSS UK will be hosting Save A Baby’s Life workshops at their head office in Worcester. Trained instructors will cover basic life saving techniques and provide advice on what to do when a baby stops breathing, or how best to deal with a choking or drowning situation. Using a life-like baby manikin, people will learn how to perform basic CPR and first aid as they would in a real life situation.

Mike Dunn, RLSS UK’s Deputy Director of Education and Research explains:

“It is frightening how many people care for babies and young children every day but would not know what to do if a child stopped breathing. The SABL course is designed to equip members of the community with the vital skills they would need, in order to attempt to save a baby’s life, if an emergency occurred.

“The hands-on style of learning we encourage through the workshops, means it doesn’t take long to understand the basics but they are invaluable skills that will stay with people for life.

“Our aim is to ensure that parents and others who care for babies, feel confident and calm enough to deal with an emergency situation safely. If one baby’s life is saved as a result of the Save A Baby’s life workshop, it has been a success.”

*And then the first Tuesday of every month

** The course is completely free but attendees are encouraged to make a donation to RLSS UK, helping with the continuation of their water safety education and drowning prevention work.

If you would like a digital copy of the poster, please get in touch: marketing@rlss.org.uk.

For more information on the Royal Lifesaving Society UK, what they do and how you can get involved, please visit our website at: rlss.org.uk

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Call – 0300 323 0096