Happy First Aid

D is for Defibrillator

A–Z of First Aid series

Have you seen one of these on your walk?

Almost 100 people collapse in the UK every day needing CPR.

Survival jumps from 1 in 10 to 7 in 10 when a defib is used quickly.

Most people don’t know where their nearest one is, do you?

If it’s locked, call 999 and they’ll give you the code.

👉 BHF Guide to Defibrillators

Would your workplace know how to perform CPR and use an AED?

Is your certificate nearly due for renewal?

We deliver engaging, hands-on training that gives teams the skills and confidence to act in an emergency.

[email protected]
www.Happyfirstaid.co.uk

Screwfix

C is for Choking

A–Z of First Aid series

Do you recognise the choking vest from your previous first aid courses?

Here I’m showing with Laura (my willing casualty!) just how quick and effective back blows and abdominal thrusts can be.

Choking facts you might not know:

Around 280 people die from choking every year in England & Wales.

The #1 culprit is food, with meat, grapes, and sweets as top offenders.

Most deaths are in the over-50s, but children are at risk too.

And yes… people can even choke on air!

That’s why we teach how to help anyone, whether they’re pregnant, in a wheelchair, or simply someone you can’t get your arms around.

Practical, memorable, life-saving skills.

Would your workplace know what to do if someone was choking?

Is your certificate nearly due for renewal?

We deliver engaging, hands-on training that gives teams the skills and confidence they need.

Contact [email protected] to chat about training for your team.

B is for Bleeds 🩸

A–Z of First Aid series

Did you know…

👉 Most bleeding can be controlled with firm, direct pressure.

👉 In healthy people, blood typically clots within 8–12 minutes in lab tests, but in real life, the time varies depending on the size and type of wound.

👉 If someone is taking blood thinners, clotting can take significantly longer.

The single best thing you can do is:

✋ Apply firm, continuous pressure.

Keep going, don’t lift off too soon to “check.”

I was working as an event medic at the Clitheroe Food Festival earlier this year, and it was a reminder of just how quickly a bleed can become serious and how vital it is to act fast.

This photo shows two pieces of lifesaving kit you might see around your community:

💚 A public defibrillator (for cardiac arrest)

❤️ A bleed control kit (for catastrophic bleeding)

Here’s a question for you:
Do you know what’s inside a bleed box?

Both the AED and bleed kit are designed so that anyone, not just medics, can use them with 999 support.

First aid is about acting quickly, not perfectly. The confidence to step in could save someone’s life.

Would your workplace know what to do if someone suffered a serious bleed?

Is your certificate nearly due for renewal?

We deliver engaging, hands-on training that gives teams the skills and confidence they need.

Contact [email protected] to chat about training for your team.

A is for Airway

A–Z of First Aid

One of the most common things people say on a course is:
❌ “You can swallow your tongue.”

The truth? You can’t.

But when someone is unconscious, their tongue can flop backwards and block the airway.

That’s why the very first thing we teach is how to open an airway:
👉 Head tilt, chin lift for adults and children.

👉 Neutral “sniffing” position for babies under 1.

It’s simple, it’s quick, and it saves lives.

The group Laura and I trained today went from 😟 unsure to 😁 confident in just a few hours.

That’s the power of first aid, it turns everyday people into lifesavers.

Would your workplace know what to do in an emergency?

We deliver engaging, hands-on training that gives teams the skills and confidence they need.

Is your first aid certificate due for renewal?

Conact [email protected] to chat about training for your team.

Happy Mental Health

I had the privilege of being surrounded by heroes today.

The incredible team at Stanley House Veterinary Group - Farm the same team I trust with my own dog Benji, joined me for a hands-on Emergency First Aid at Work session.

You can only imagine how excited I was to spend the day delivering training that covered:
• CPR with a defibrillator
• Recovery position
• Choking
• Seizures
• Bleeds, burns, and much more

Did you know?
1 in 10 adults will experience a seizure at some point in their life, often triggered by stress, illness, trauma, or burnout, not just epilepsy.

Mental health matters in the veterinary world.

The emotional demands of the job can take a real toll, which is why wellbeing and mental health awareness are so vital in this space.

The feedback speaks for itself:

“First ever first aid course I’ve done, really enjoyed it, thank you.”

“The course has given me more confidence.”

“The trainer was excellent, in my 3 previous courses, this was the best.”

“I feel more confident and able to act, and felt comfortable speaking up.”

It was a joy to work with a team so passionate about what they do, caring not just for animals, but for each other too.

Would you like to book your First Aid or Mental Health training?

Click here: https://linktr.ee/Happytraininghub

Two fantastic days of Paediatric First Aid training - ✔️done!

Laura and I had a brilliant time delivering another full course covering essential topics like CPR with AEDs, recovery position, choking, seizures, bleeding, and so much more.

One subject that always gets people talking is febrile convulsions.

A frightening experience for anyone, but something that’s more common than many realise.

Here’s what you need to know:
• Around 1 in 20 children will experience a febrile convulsion, most commonly between 6 months and 5 years old

• They tend to happen when a child’s temperature rises suddenly, often due to viral infections like flu or colds

• It’s believed to be linked to the immaturity of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls temperature

• Febrile seizures can be inherited, there’s a higher risk if a parent or sibling had them

Did you know?

You can now complete your 2-day Paediatric First Aid course with just 1 day online and 1 day in person. It’s a flexible, accredited option that’s ideal for busy early years teams.

Here’s what some of our learners had to say:

“Both trainers are great – full of information, relaxing, fun.”

“Enlightening and entertaining – great to learn the latest procedures.”

“Excellent knowledge with loads of practical examples that made it stick.”

Even our mannequins had a great time!

www.happyfirstaid.co.uk

Such a brilliant group at ReAct Academy!

Loved delivering their Paediatric First Aid training, full of energy, laughter, and learning. 🤩

What a fantastic sunny Sunday spent with an amazing team!

We had such a great time delivering a dynamic First Aid course covering:
• How to administer an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen/AAI)

• What to do if someone has an anaphylactic shock and no EpiPen

• How to respond to choking, seizures and serious bleeds

• Hands-on CPR and AED (defibrillator) training

Delivering on a weekend meant the team could come together without disrupting their busy weekday schedules.

Plenty of learning, laughter and confidence building.

Thanks for having me, ReAct Academy!

What an amazing day at Making Space delivering a First Aid course!

We covered a full range of life-saving skills including:

• CPR and using a defibrillator (AED)
• Helping someone who is choking
• Managing severe bleeding
• Responding to anaphylaxis with AAIs (like EpiPens)
• Recovery position — and much more!

The group were fantastic, so engaged, full of laughs, and genuinely passionate about learning how to help others just in case.

It’s always so lovely to be around people who truly care.

Some of the feedback included:

“Very engaging delivery, easy to follow.”

“Really good and fun experience!”

“Victoria was funny, clear, and made it easy to understand.”

“I would highly recommend this course!”

Thank you Making Space for being such a brilliant and welcoming team.

Empowering people to save lives with confidence.

www.happyfirstaid.co.uk

What a fantastic couple of days!

I had the pleasure of delivering an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course for the brilliant team at first ltd , and what a setting!

The beautiful in Ambleside provided stunning views and the perfect backdrop for learning some truly life saving skills.

From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by Vanessa on front of house with a warm smile and a hug, proof that kindness really does make a difference.

The group were fully engaged, eager to learn and left feeling more confident and empowered with essential first aid knowledge.

It’s always a privilege to equip people with skills that could one day save a life.

.co.uk - bringing heart, humour and hands on learning to every session.