Stories from our participants:
Hi Mike,
I took a first aid course with you at Fanshawe College in May of last year (2011). I wanted to thank you again for providing a wonderful course. It was by
far the best I have ever taken and left me feeling confident and capable of approaching first aid situations.
If I may take a moment and share. Perhaps you remember that at the time of training I was pregnant, less than a month later I ended up having my daughter
premature, at home, in the middle of the night. At the time I was alone but I can remember being completely in control as I called 911 and waited for
paramedics. In addition to that I was able to adequately communicate the situation and my immediate needs. I have no doubt that it was in large part because
of your course and training ability. For that I am eternally grateful
(name withheld by request)
RE: Goderich Tornado
Hi Laura:
This is a note of thanks for the excellent preparation you gave me with the Wilderness and Remote FA course last spring. On the afternoon of August 21,
2011 I was in Goderich with 33 members of my family at our annual reunion. With only a minute or two of warning, the F3 tornado passed over us as
we huddled on the floor of my brother's house. Before the dust had even settled, I used my knowledge from the course to ensure everyone was
accounted for and uninjured. Things looked good so I went outside with my brother and nephews and started assisting others. I had a good first aid kit
in my car that I carried with me for the next several hours. The mantra, "no gas, no glass, no wire, no fire" was only good for us because there was no fire.
There were many gas leaks in the immediate area, live wires everywhere, and glass covered everything. We evacuated houses and turned cars away from
the danger, then, for several hours, I directed traffic on Hwy 8 as people tried to get into town. Once OPP were in place to assume that duty, I returned to
my family and made sure once again they
were safely evacuated and then helped get other relatives to take most of the
family out of town.
My story could go on and on as we continue to recover mentally from the trauma and get our vehicles back from the collision centres or purchase new ones
to replace those that were totalled. I know that without the training you provided, I would not have been as ready to help as I was. I was fortunate that I
didn't need my kit but the reassurance that I could help someone if necessary helped me carry on that day. Thank you for the courage and determination to
lead that day. I'm happy to be alive!
With many thanks,
(name withheld by request)
RE: Accident south of London
Hello Laura,
My name is Connie Kloosterman and I am currently a student at Trios College in London, Ontario. I was in your cpr/first aid training at the school sometime
around the end of Nov./08. I had some minimal first aid training prior to that but I never felt like I was really prepared to react in a situation. After I completed
this course with you and your family I felt like I had learned so much and I was well prepared if a situation should arise. Well, that situation arrived this morning
when four of us girls from Trios witnessed an accident on Highbury Ave by Ferguson Line. You were right, we just re-acted and we knew exactly what to do.
I had your voice in my ear and from the moment we jumped out our vehicle to help, I felt prepared. Five people were taken to the hospital but I don't think
there were any life threatening injuries thank god. We even tended to their dog that was also in the vehicle. I just wanted to let you know that we are very
thankful to have been taught so well by such great people. Thank you for making
sure we were well prepared.
Connie Kloosterman
Certified Instruction: Canadian Red Cross and Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada