Active First Aid

27/10/2026

WHY I TEACH FIRST AID

For me, teaching first aid has never just been about delivering a course or handing out certificates. It’s about sharing knowledge, experience and, ultimately, the skills that might one day help someone save a life.

After all these years, I still love what I do. I love seeing people grow in confidence, watching that penny drop when something suddenly makes sense, and knowing that what we’ve shared in a classroom could make a real difference out in the world.

But there’s something else I believe just as strongly: teaching is a two-way street. I bring my knowledge and real-life experience to every course, but my clients bring their own experiences, questions, perspectives and ideas. I learn from them just as they learn from me.

I don’t believe any of us ever know it all. In fact, I think believing we have nothing left to learn is one of the biggest barriers to becoming better at what we do. There’s always something new to discover, a different perspective to consider or a better way to approach something.

For me, being a good instructor isn’t about being the person in the room who knows everything. It’s about being willing to share what you know, listen to others, keep learning and never lose sight of the fact that we’re all human.

Because the more we share our knowledge, the more capable and confident we all become. And that can only be a good thing

November Courses
Sunday 1st - Canine First Aid
Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th - Outdoor First Aid
Tuesday 17th - Basic First Aid
Wednesday 18th - Basic First Aid

Visit the website for details https://www.activefirstaid.co.uk

24/10/2026

CANINE FIRST AID COURSE – Sunday 1st November

📍 Boulder Adventures, Llanberis, North Wales LL55 4HE

Learn practical, potentially lifesaving skills from an experienced canine first aider and instructor.

✅ Recognise emergencies
✅ Deal with injuries and illness
✅ Learn techniques of moving and transporting your dog - vital when e dry second counts

Small groups • Hands-on learning • Certificate awarded

Give yourself the confidence to act when your dog needs you most.

📩 Message me to book your place! Or visit the website https://www.activefirstaid.co.uk/canine-dog-first-aid

19/10/2026

CANINE CHOKING

Having actually had to clear two dogs airways whilst they were choking I can testify how absolutely terrifying this can be. Fortunately I managed to clear both dogs airways and they were absolutely fine.

Clearly 'prevention' is better than 'cure' and today this graphic from 'The Pen Vet Working Dog Centre' caught my eye. One of the biggest airway risks whilst playing 'ball' is that if its inappropriately sized there is a chance it may become a serious choking hazard!
Check out their infographic to help determine the correct ball size for your dog and keep fetch safe!

Next Canine First Aid Course is:
Sunday 1st November
Boulder Adventures, Llanberis, Gwynedd
Certificated Course

Visit the website for more details https://www.activefirstaid.co.uk/canine-dog-first-aid

(Graphic: The Pen Vet Working Dog Centre)

19/10/2026

CANINE FIRST AID COURSE

When you are out walking your dog and a long way from your car, would you know what to do in an emergency?

They’re choking. They’ve been injured. They’re struggling to breathe.

Would you feel confident enough to act?

Knowing what to do could make all the difference.

My Canine First Aid course is designed to give you practical skills and the confidence to help your dog when they need you most.

🐶 Learn how to recognise and respond to common canine emergencies.

🐶 Understand what to do when a dog is injured or becomes seriously ill.

🐶 Discover and practice ways of transporting your dog back to your car.

🐶 Gain practical knowledge in a friendly, hands-on learning environment with real dogs.

🐶 Ask questions, practise skills and leave feeling better prepared.

I’m an experienced first aid instructor with years of practical experience, and I’m passionate about helping people become more confident when caring for their four-legged friends.

📍 WHERE: Boulder Adventures, Llanberis, North Wales

1️⃣ WHEN: Sunday 1 November - 9.30am - 4.30pm

🐾 CERTIFICATED CANINE FIRST AID COURSE

If you’ve ever thought, “I really should learn canine first aid one day,” perhaps this is your sign to do it!

📩 Message me directly to enquire or book your place or visit the website https://www.activefirstaid.co.uk/canine-dog-first-aid

Please share this post with fellow dog lovers. You never know whose dog might benefit from the knowledge they gain. ❤️🐾

18/10/2026

YES, at last!

A video that shows a real FEMALE chest. Well done Cambridge University Hospital!

I am passionate that a woman’s perceived modesty should never stop the help she desperately needs in cardiac arrest (when the heart has stopped).

My teaching advocates the BRA OFF PADS ON approach. Remember you can do CPR over clothing, it’s when the Defib arrives that clothing and obstructions (like a bra) need to be removed.

16/10/2026

WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO

Did you know that women are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men? One factor researchers have explored is the hesitation some people feel about performing CPR on a woman.

❤️ A cardiac arrest is an emergency. Every second counts, regardless of whether the casualty is male or female.

Knowing what to look for, when to start CPR and how to use an AED could make the difference between life and death.

You don’t need to be a medical professional to save a life. You need the knowledge, the skills and the confidence to act.

I’m running my next one-day first aid courses in Llanberis on:

🔹 Tuesday 17th November
🔹 Wednesday 18th November

Whether you need a first aid qualification for work or simply want to feel more confident helping someone in an emergency, these courses will give you practical skills you can use when they matter most.

📩 Message me for further details or to book your place.

14/10/2026

THEY’RE GASPing… BUT ARE THEY BREATHING?

One of the most important things you can learn on a first aid course is how to recognise abnormal breathing — and when to start CPR.

Agonal gasps can be incredibly confusing. They may sound like snatching at breath, occasional gasps, or laboured, irregular breathing. But these are NOT normal breathing and can be a sign that someone is in cardiac arrest.

If someone is unresponsive and only gasping, don’t wait for them to stop gasping. Start CPR.

I’ve personally performed CPR on someone who was displaying agonal gasps. Thankfully, they survived. But I know from experience just how challenging it can be to recognise what you’re seeing and make that potentially life-saving decision.

That’s why first aid training matters. It’s not just about learning the theory — it’s about developing the confidence to recognise the signs, act decisively and give someone the best possible chance of survival.

Could you recognise agonal breathing? Would you know when to start CPR?

Come along to one of my upcoming one-day First Aid courses at Boulder Adventures in Llanberis:

Tuesday 17th November
Wednesday 18th November

✅ Practical, hands-on training
✅ Learn to recognise a medical emergency
✅ Understand when and how to start CPR
✅ Build the confidence to act when every second counts

You never know when you might be the person who makes the difference between life and death.

Be prepared. Be confident. Learn to save a life.

Message me for details or to book your place.

13/10/2026

WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG NEEDED FIRST AID?

Our four-legged friends rely on us to keep them safe — but would you know what to do in an emergency?

From cuts and wounds to choking, CPR, heatstroke and other unexpected emergencies, knowing what to do could make all the difference.

CANINE FIRST AID COURSE

Sunday 1st November 2026
Boulder Adventures, Llanberis, North Wales

🐾 Certificated course
🐾 Practical learning with experienced canine first aider
🐾 Meet my canine teaching assistants, George & Rolo!
🐾 Gain knowledge and confidence to help your dog when it matters most.

Whether you’re a dog owner, walker, sitter or work with dogs, this course is a great opportunity to learn skills that could one day make a real difference.

Visit the website or DM me for more details

01/10/2026

28/09/2026

Anyone can use a Defib but attending a course and actually having a go before you have to use one for real can be incredibly valuable.

The next one day courses here in Llanberis are:

Tuesday 17th November
Wednesday 18th November

We start at 9am and finish at 4.30pm.

Get in touch if you are interested in coming along.

Using a defib within the first 3-5 minutes of collapse can increase the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest by 50-70%.

Yet the most recent data from University of Warwick shows that public access defibrillators were only used in 9% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in England in 2024.

It's vital we remove the fear around using defibs and help the public feel more confident using these lifesaving devices.

Sources:
bit.ly/4xzwx2R
bit.ly/42DwYwk