ST John Ambulance volunteers will be teaching life saving skills to visitors and non-clinical staff at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital throughout today (Monday September 14).

The free first aid sessions are taking place until 8pm today as part of the charity's Save a Life September initiative.

Emma Elgerton, community training co-ordinator for St John Ambulance in the West Midlands, said: "First aid is for everyone and it’s easy and fun to learn.

"We believe everyone should have first aid knowledge – and the more people that take part in Save a Life September, the higher the chance that someone will be on hand to help when it’s needed most."

Paul Bytheway, chief operating officer at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which runs Russells Hall, said: “Save a Life September is a fantastic campaign and by supporting it we can give our patients, visitors and non-clinical staff the opportunity to learn invaluable skills for life."

The charity will also be holding Save a Life September sessions at the Churchill Shopping Centre in Dudley from 9am to 5pm on Friday September 25 and at Merry Hill's Mummy Mornings event from 10am to midday on Tuesday September 29.

For more information on the work of St John Ambulance, details on how to become a volunteer and to find out more about training for the public, schools and businesses visit www.sja.org.uk or call 08700 104950.