I have been up and running with Mini First Aid Norfolk for 9 months now and I really love running every class. I have taught the two hour baby and child first aid class to hundreds of parents, expectant parents and grandparents. I have run short classes for numerous children aged from 3 upwards. And I have helped many people including teachers, childminders and nursery workers gain certified first aid qualifications to use in the workplace.

However first aid can be a funny thing to teach. I’ve met so many people who have been on first aid courses that have put them off every attending one again! People find it boring, intimidating, embarrassing even. I can’t stand the thought of people completing first aid courses and then not being confident enough to actually carry out first aid at the end of them. Or coming along to a class and then feeling uncomfortable getting involved and having a go.

Whether it is a certified qualification course or a two hour baby and child first aid class I want people to leave my classes feeling empowered! I don’t want people to attend a class and come away simply saying “It was ok” and I definitely don’t want them to leave feeling scared. I want them to finish the course both confident and competent. I want them to go home to their families and say “I really enjoyed that course. I feel ready to deal with any emergency that may come my way.” Despite covering serious topics I aim for my classes to always be relaxed and fun as well as being interactive and informative.

First aid isn’t about becoming an expert in pre-hospital care. It is about dealing with everyday bumps and scrapes and making a difference in an emergency. I want people to know that whatever they may be faced with they can make a difference - whether it is carrying out life saving CPR, saving a child from choking or spotting the early signs of meningitis.

Although setting up a new business has been hard work it has also been really rewarding and I’m really pleased to have had so much great feedback. Here are just a couple of pieces of feedback I have recently received.

"Joe ran a two day course at our school on Paediatric First Aid. He made the training interesting, enjoyable and relevant to our age group. He answered questions, took the training at a good pace and gave support where needed. After previous First Aid training sessions which were dull and therefore the information not memorable, Joe was a breath of fresh air!”

“I also went to 2 hour class yesterday and came away feeling empowered with knowledge which could prove vital one day, thanks Joe, keep up the great work!”

This was reinforced recently when a mum who attended one of my classes called me just minutes after she saved her young child’s life. After attending a short course she was confident enough to step up when her son became unresponsive after choking. She said that she stayed calm throughout and managed to dislodge the blockage. Getting this call made it all worthwhile.

Mini First Aid Norfolk offers both Certified First Aid Qualifications (First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid, Auto-Injector, AED) and First Aid Classes to Parents, Expectant Parents, Grandparents, Carers and Children. All classes are taught by Joe - an experienced A&E nurse and father of three. Get in touch to book your class or find out more. joe@minifirstaid.co.uk