The West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has launched a new programme in Bloxwich, West Midlands, to teach people how to save lives during medical emergencies. These free, walk-in sessions are running throughout February 2026 to help residents feel more confident acting as immediate bystanders if someone has a cardiac arrest or a serious injury before an ambulance arrives.
Local people can visit Bloxwich Library, Bloxwich Fire Station and other community hubs to learn chest compressions (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). According to Emergency Services Times, the sessions also include bleed-kit awareness and do not require any previous medical experience.
The classes are taking place weekly on Tuesdays: 3 February, 10 February, 17 February and 24 February 2026. The rollout follows a series of WMnow community alerts in January 2026 that highlighted the need for greater local preparedness.
Cliff Medlicott, Community Response Manager at WMAS, said: “We want to give every resident the confidence to be a lifesaver. You don’t need to be a paramedic to keep someone’s heart beating until we get there.” WMAS says early intervention by bystanders can double the chance of survival in out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrests while crews are en route.
