Held at Gnosall Memorial Village Hall, the training brought together members of the GFest organising team, including yours truly, along with a local teacher from St Lawrence CE Primary Academy. Throughout the day, participants learned how to respond confidently in a range of medical emergencies involving both adults and children.
The course covered essential lifesaving techniques including CPR, the safe use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), placing casualties into the recovery position, treating wounds and bleeding, and responding to a variety of emergency scenarios. Using professional training equipment, including CPR dummies, defibrillators, first aid kits and training materials, everyone had the opportunity to practise their skills in realistic situations.
Despite temperatures climbing above 30°C outside making conditions even warmer inside the hall, instructor Ade Turner delivered an engaging, informative and highly professional course throughout the day. His knowledge, patience and enthusiasm ensured that every participant left feeling more confident and better prepared when needed.
The training will play an important role during this year's Gnosall Canal Festival, taking place from 17–19 July 2026 along the picturesque Shropshire Union Canal between The Boat Inn and The Navigation Inn. With many, many visitors expected across the weekend, having trained volunteers on hand provides an extra layer of reassurance until emergency services arrive if someone becomes unwell or injured.
Perhaps most remarkable of all is that the training was provided entirely free of charge, with all costs covered by Gnosall First Responders themselves.
The GFest team would like to express its sincere thanks to everyone involved, particularly Ade Turner, Ann Andrews, and the wider First Responders team, for investing their time, expertise and resources into supporting the festival and the wider community.
Gnosall First Responders are a dedicated group of volunteers who are frequently the first people to arrive at medical emergencies across the village and parish. Working alongside the ambulance service, they provide immediate, potentially lifesaving care in those vital first few minutes before an ambulance reaches the scene.
Their commitment makes a genuine difference to our community, and they rely on local support to continue providing this outstanding service.
If you have ever wondered how you could give something back to Gnosall, supporting our First Responders - whether through fundraising, donations or volunteering, is a wonderful place to start.
From Love Gnosall, thank you to Gnosall First Responders for everything you do, both every day and behind the scenes. Your dedication helps make our community a safer place for us all.
https://www.gnosallcfrs.org.uk/ ??
