Midlands businesses have been shortlisted for coveted awards at
the inaugural St John Ambulance First Aid Awards.
In the Workplace of the Year Awards category,
Leicestershire-based Lafarge Aggregates and Concrete UK and
Worcestershire-based Chalcroft Ltd have been shortlisted in the
construction sector, and Burton and South Derbyshire College, South
Derbyshire District Council and The University of Northampton have
been shortlisted for the public sector. In the Community Awards
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has been shortlisted in
the Emergency Services sector and North-Staffordshire based
community centre The Madeley Centre is shortlisted in the Leisure /
Not for Profit sector.
Jonathan Thompson, head of customer services at the Birmingham
Hippodrome, is shortlisted for the Community Hero award after
performing CPR on a 74-year-old who had collapsed by the stage
door. Yvonne Talbot, Sue Detheridge and Patrick Quigley from
Windsor High School and Sixth Form in Halesowen in the West
Midlands are nominated for the Guy Evans Award after performing CPR
on 12-year-old Jasmine Page.
Nominees will find out if they've been successful at a
glittering awards event in London on Wednesday 30 November, hosted
by BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth, who has herself benefitted from
first aid. It is set to be an inspirational occasion, showcasing
first aid success stories across the UK.
The awards were launched in July to celebrate individuals,
businesses and communities that are leading the way in first aid.
Trophies will go to those who champion first aid - in the workplace
or in public - and heroes who have been the difference between a
life lost and a life saved.
Awards at the celebratory black-tie awards dinner will be
presented by high-profile supporters including presenter Matthew
Wright who would have choked to death without first aid, and
wilderness survival expert Ray Mears, who gave first aid to a
fellow crew member when he was involved in a helicopter accident
during filming.
Why the awards are needed
Each year up to 150,000* people die in situations where first
aid could have given them the chance to live.
St John Ambulance wants to put an end to these needless deaths
and encourage everyone to have the skills to save a life. These
awards aim to raise awareness of the importance of first aid and
celebrate organisations with exemplary first aid standards in their
workplaces and those who have put their knowledge to use.
Sue Killen, CEO of St John Ambulance, said: 'Organisations like
these are the reason we set up the St John Ambulance First Aid
Awards. We were searching for companies that had gone the extra
mile or achieved something special through first aid. Their
applications showed they took first aid provision extremely
seriously and I look forward to meeting them on the evening and
toasting their commitment.'
*Using death registration data from the Office of National
Statistics, 2008 (for England and Wales), April 2010.