Athelas First Aid

Back to school. Back to work. And back into the routine! 🍎🎒

September is right around the corner, and for a lot of us that means getting certifications renewed, workplace training taken care of, or simply getting better prepared for the unexpected.

At Athelas First Aid, I offer Canadian Red Cross training including:

🫀 CPR-C & AED
🩹 Basic First Aid
🚑 Intermediate First Aid
🏥 Basic Life Support (BLS)

One of the things I’m most proud of with Athelas is that our courses are taught by active first responders with real-world experience. We don’t just teach the material—we bring practical experience into the classroom and focus on giving you the confidence to actually use these skills when someone needs help.

Whether you need training for work, school, health care, or just want to be better prepared, we have public courses available as well as private and on-site workplace/group training.

As everyone starts getting back into their fall routines, it’s a great time to check when your certification expires and get your training taken care of.

🌿 Real instructors. Real experience. Real confidence.

Visit athelasfirstaid.com to see upcoming classes and register.

It might still feel like summer, but the start of a new school year means it’s time for many families to begin reviewing allergy plans.

Food allergies affect thousands of Canadian students every day, and for some children, accidental exposure can lead to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop within minutes.

Before school starts, take a few minutes to review your child’s allergy management plan:

✔️ Make sure teachers, school staff, coaches, and caregivers are aware of any allergies.

✔️ Check expiration dates on epinephrine auto-injectors and replace them if necessary.

✔️ Teach children to recognize the early signs of an allergic reaction and to tell an adult immediately if they don’t feel well.

✔️ Remind children never to share food, drinks, or utensils with classmates.

✔️ Review the signs of anaphylaxis, including hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, wheezing, vomiting, dizziness, and fainting.

One of the biggest misconceptions about allergic reactions is that they’ll always look the same. They don’t. Symptoms can progress quickly, and early recognition is critical.

As a first responder and first aid instructor, I’ve always believed that education is one of the most effective ways to prevent emergencies. A simple conversation before the first day of school could make a significant difference for a child living with allergies.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, stay safe and have fun!

Learning some skills and having some fun with the Carleton Place And District Civitan Club! What a fun class!!

I started Athelas First Aid because I believe first aid training should be practical, engaging, and taught by people who use these skills in the real world.

Whether you’re looking for certification for work, preparing to care for your family, working in health care, or simply wanting the confidence to step in during an emergency, there’s a course designed for you.

🫀 CPR-C & AED teaches adult, child, and infant CPR, choking emergencies, and AED use.

🩹 Basic First Aid builds the essential skills needed to respond to common injuries and medical emergencies at home, at work, or in the community.

🚑 Intermediate First Aid takes your training further with more in-depth instruction covering trauma, environmental emergencies, fractures, head and spinal injuries, and more.

🏥 BLS (Basic Life Support) is designed for health care providers and focuses on high-performance CPR, airway management, team dynamics, and effective resuscitation.

Every course is taught by real first responders with real-world experience, so you’re learning from instructors who apply these skills every day. Our Canadian Red Cross courses combine online theory with hands-on practical training to help you build the confidence to act when it matters most. Based on information provided by Athelas First Aid’s training program descriptions and course information. (Athelas First Aid⁠)

Visit www.athelasfirstaid.com or go to the link in our bio to learn more, sign up for available courses, or book a private or corporate class.

It’s hard to believe we’re already getting close to another school year. While we’re still enjoying the last bit of summer, now is a good time to have a quick conversation with the kids about getting to and from school safely.

If they’re walking or biking, a few simple reminders can go a long way:

🚲 Wear a properly fitted helmet every time they ride a bike, scooter or skateboard.

🚶 Use crosswalks and follow traffic signals whenever possible.

👀 Stay alert around traffic. Put the phone away, skip the headphones while crossing, and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the road.

↔️ Look both ways—and then look left again before crossing.

And remember, even when you have the right of way, never assume a driver has seen you. Making sure traffic has stopped before crossing is one of those simple habits that can prevent a very serious injury.

As a first responder, I’ve seen how quickly an ordinary day can turn into an emergency. A few minutes spent talking about safety now is time well spent.

Stay safe, everyone, and enjoy the rest of summer! 🌞

It’s one thing to take a first aid course. It’s another to learn from someone who actually uses these skills when things go wrong.

At Athelas First Aid, our instructors are real first responders with real-world experience. We’re firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency professionals who have dealt with medical emergencies—not just read about them in a textbook.

Our next public classes are coming up in Carleton Place on September 8th and September 23rd, with CPR-C, Basic First Aid, and Intermediate First Aid available.

If you’re looking for first aid training that goes beyond checking a box, come train with people who actually do this for a living.

Real instructors. Real experience. Real-world training.

📍 Carleton Place
📅 September 8 & September 23
📞 613-324-5141
🌐 www.athelasfirstaid.com

Myth: If there's no AED nearby, there's nothing you can do.

Fact: An AED is a critical part of treating sudden cardiac arrest—but starting CPR immediately can help keep someone alive until an AED is available.

If someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest, don't wait for an AED or emergency responders before taking action. Beginning hands-only CPR right away helps circulate oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs, buying valuable time until an AED can be used and advanced medical care arrives.

If you witness a sudden cardiac arrest:

- Call 911.
- Begin hands-only CPR immediately.
- Send someone to retrieve the nearest AED, if one is available.
- Use the AED as soon as it arrives by following its voice prompts.
- Continue CPR until emergency responders take over or the person shows signs of life.

Even if an AED isn't immediately nearby, taking action is always better than doing nothing. Immediate CPR and early defibrillation work together to give someone the best chance of survival. Your willingness to act could save a life.

Learn the lifesaving steps everyone should know: Call. Push. Shock. Learn how you can be prepared to respond when every second counts: https://www.callpushshock.org/

We know it’s still the middle of summer, and no one wants to think about the school year just yet… but August is the perfect time to start building safe habits before those school buses are back on the road.

Whether your kids walk, bike, or take the bus, taking a few minutes to review school bus safety can make a big difference. Remind them to stay back from the curb, cross well in front of the bus where the driver can see them, and never run toward or away from a moving bus.

As a firefighter and first aid instructor, I’ve seen how small decisions can have a big impact. A quick conversation today could help prevent an injury tomorrow.

Here’s to a fun, safe finish to the summer—and a safe start to the school year!

🚨 FINAL CALL! 🚨

Our August classes are almost here, and this is your last chance to grab a spot before registration closes!

Whether you’ve been meaning to learn CPR, need first aid certification for work, or want to prepare your future babysitter with valuable life skills, now’s the time.

📍 August 11 – Kanata
✅ CPR-C/AED
✅ Basic First Aid
✅ Intermediate First Aid

📍 August 14 – Carleton Place
👶 Red Cross Babysitting Course (Ages 11–15)

As always, all of our courses are taught by real first responders who bring real-world experience into the classroom, so you’ll leave with practical skills and confidence—not just a certificate.

💚 Save 15% with coupon code: f&f15%

Register today at www.athelasfirstaid.com or give me a call at 613-324-5141 if you have any questions. I’d love to help you find the course that’s right for you.

Looking forward to seeing you in class!