Argos Makes Donation to say Thanks for First Aid

Staff from an Argos distribution centre have donated a television to St John Ambulance Somerset.

The Hitachi combined TV and DVD player will now take pride of place in the rest room. It will be used by students who are taking first aid courses at the charity's training centre at Woodlands Court Business Park in Bridgwater.

It was donated by Argos following a first aid awareness demonstration delivered to 30 staff at its distribution centre at Huntworth Business Park, Taunton Road, earlier this year.

The first aid awareness course was delivered by Vernon King, a trainer based at the Bridgwater St John Ambulance training centre. He covered basic first aid skills that can help people in their daily lives, at home and in the workplace, to be safe and prompt if an accident or illness occurs. It was organised as part of the Argos annual learning week, which is funded by Unite the Union.

South West Regional Sales and Customer Services Manager Joy Howland said: 'The feedback was really positive and those people taking part said they now want to learn more first aid so they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

'The donation was very generous and I am sure it will be welcomed by the students who attend our training courses in Bridgwater.'

Jim Daly, a Unite the Union Learning representative from the Argos Distribution Centre, said every year a Learning Week is organised. Staff suggest the things they would like to learn.

'They have previously had days on sign language, Tai Chi and art for instance, and this year people suggested they would like to have some first aid skills. The brief demonstration made us realise how easy it is to learn the skills that can literally save someone's life and many of those who attended the training are now keen to learn more.'

For more information on St John Ambulance first aid courses or to find out how it can help your business contact 0844 770 4800 or email southwest-region@sja.org.uk.