From Lounging to Life Saver: A First Response First Aid Tutor's Remarkable Story

Even if you learn first aid in the workplace, the skills acquired can come in handy wherever you are. Not only that, but if you need help outside of work, the hope would be that there’s someone nearby who knows what to do.

Take our very own Laura North, for example. A First Aid Tutor at FRFA, Laura found herself in a real-world scenario that transformed a relaxing beach holiday into a life-saving situation.

Below, we’ll cover what happened, and the impact Laura’s skills and quick thinking had on a potentially fatal incident.

An unexpected setting

Laura was enjoying a sunny day in Tenerife when crisis struck.

Her extensive first aid experience pre-dates her time with FRFA. Having spent a decade as an army medic before joining us, she is well versed in providing emergency medical assistance.

So, when a fellow holidaymaker suddenly collapsed on the sand, there could not have been a better bystander than Laura. It was clear that the person in question required immediate medical attention. Without hesitation, Laura's training kicked in, and she sprang into action.

First aid skills put to good use

The first thing Laura did, was quickly assess the situation. When these types of incidents occur, time is always of the essence, and every second counts. Drawing on her background, she recognised that the casualty required CPR. She began to administer the technique both calmly and professionally, even guiding the local lifeguards on the proper use of a defibrillator.

Laura worked on the individual, doing all she could to treat and assist until emergency services could get there. The gathered crowd could only watch and pray that they would be okay. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they were able to take over from a well-managed situation.

Laura’s legacy

Laura's quick thinking and decisive actions made a crucial difference. The impact of her intervention became clear later that evening, when she received the news that the patient had, thankfully, survived – all thanks to her timely assistance.

Laura not only saved a life, but she also saved a family from losing someone they loved, sparing them a lifetime of grief and trauma.

This incident vividly illustrates why Laura is so passionate about first aid training. "I love what I do," Laura told FRFA, following the incident. "Interacting with the public and teaching life-saving skills every day is incredibly rewarding." 

Be more ‘Laura’

Laura’s experience on that Tenerife beach highlights the importance of first aid skills. An incident like this can literally happen anywhere – at work, at home, at the supermarket - it’s impossible to predict when a life might need to be saved. Conversely, you cannot know when you might suffer a medical emergency yourself; and need someone like Laura nearby.

First Response First Aid is immensely proud of Laura, and all our tutors, who bring this level of expertise and dedication to their work. Laura's story reminds us all that emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone.

You can ensure you’re prepared in an emergency just like Laura. Give us a call or browse the courses on our website. We have something for all skill levels, plus refresher courses for those who want to keep their skills sharp.

Don't wait for a first aid emergency to wish you knew what to do. Take action today. Enrol on one of our first aid programmes. You never know – the life you save could be that of a loved one, a stranger in need, or even your own. 

Visit our first aid courses or call us at 01543 372888 to find out more, book your place, or discuss group bookings for your team.

Be prepared, be confident, be a lifesaver.