JUST three hours of your time could be the difference between life and death.

That is the message from St John Ambulance following its announcement that new first aid classes will come to Kidlington, Banbury and Wantage.

The charity has launched its new First Aid for All Ages courses aimed at anyone aged 12 and over.

Classes particularly focus on emergency situations involving children who are choking, bleeding or have stopped breathing.

According to Beth Elger, St John’s schools and community training co-ordinator for the South East, statistics surrounding first aid make these classes necessary.

She said: “No-one should die because they needed first aid and didn’t get it but, sadly, too many lives are lost every year in situations where first aid could have given people a chance to live.

“Only five per cent of people have had first aid training, 41 per cent say it would take something as severe as the death of a loved one to learn and one in five parents don’t think it’s important to know first aid.

“These are shocking statistics and we’d like to change this with our programme in Oxfordshire.

“At a St John Ambulance training course you’ll learn to be the difference between life and death.

“You never know when you might need first aid – it could be at home, at work, on holiday or just out and about. It can all happen in a second.”

The courses, which cost £30, will be held at St John House in Kidlington on September 16, October 17, November 4 and December 5, and at Cherwell Business Village in Banbury on September 19 and November 28.

Wantage will host the courses at the St John Ambulance headquarters on September 29, October 3, November 28 and December 7.

Dick Tracey, divisional responder commander at South Central Ambulance Service, said he was thrilled that first aid knowledge was branching out to younger people.

Mr Tracey said he was particularly pleased that children aged 12 and over could get involved.

He added: “It gives them the confidence that doing something is better than doing nothing and something can be the difference between life and death.

“They are a ready army of lifesavers and that age group retain the knowledge well.

“They are used to being in a classrooms so they are used to being in a learning environment.

“Anybody can learn to save a life and it is easy to learn.”

More information can be found and a place can be booked by calling 03030 030101 or emailing south-east-training@sja.org.uk