Life Start First Aid's Renewed Commitment to Operation Feed: Addressing Poverty in Saint John

Life Start First Aid is proud to continue its partnership with Operation Feed to combat food insecurity in Saint John. This April, $10 from every first aid course booked will be donated to support local families in need. Last year, we contributed $1,317.10, and this year, we’re aiming even higher! By signing up for a course, you’ll not only gain life-saving skills but also make a real impact in your community. Join us in giving back—because no family should have to worry about their next meal. Book your course today and be part of the change!

Life Start Named One of the Top 100 Franchises in Canada!

Life Start First Aid & Safety Training recognized as a Top 100 Franchise in Canada, celebrating growth and expansion in first aid education.

Grand Opening at 8180 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary

We’re thrilled to announce that our new classroom is officially ready to welcome you at 8180 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary February 7th! After months of planning, preparation, and hard work (we had a little fun too!), the time has finally arrived for Life Start Training to open its doors to the Calgary community.

The Life Start Difference - Western Canada

In the world of workplace safety, first aid training is often seen as a box to check. For some, it’s a legal requirement; for others, just a formality. But at Life Start, we see it differently. To us, first aid training is not merely about passing a test or earning a certificate—it’s about preparing you for real emergencies.

The Life Start: 8180 Macloed Trail SE #16

In the world of workplace safety, first aid training is often seen as a box to check. For some, it’s a legal requirement; for others, just a formality. But at Life Start, we see it differently. To us, first aid training is not merely about passing a test or earning a certificate—it’s about preparing you for real emergencies.

Breaking Barriers: Calgary Here We Come

In the fall of 2024, Life Start First Aid Training made a bold decision—one that wasn’t just about geographic expansion, but about proving what we already knew to be true: that our mission to elevate first aid training is one that can resonate across Canada. So, we opened a head office in Calgary, Alberta.

Why Quality and Knowledgeable First Aid Instructors Are Essential - Part 2

Ideally, a first aid instructor should also have amazing interpersonal skills. They should be compassionate, patient, great communicators, and know how to manage diverse classrooms.

Why Quality and Knowledgeable First Aid Instructors Are Essential

Part 1 We attended the Halifax Franchise Expo this past weekend, and one thing was abundantly clear the inequalities in first aid training are unnecessary and in desperate need of an overhaul.

Why Everyone Should Take A Hybrid CPR Course

Consider being in a situation where someone nearby stops breathing and collapses suddenly. This is why everyone, at a minimum, should take a hybrid CPR course.

How to Avoid Injuries During Summer Workouts

There is something about summer that makes us all want to be more active, especially after two long years of limiting our activities with friends and family. Finally, we can bike, hike, or try other outdoor activities with friends.

Creating the Essential Summer First Aid Kit

The summer season is here!!! We know we should all have a 'winter kit' that we keep in the car but have you ever considered having a 'summer kit'? As we often hear, it's better to be safe than sorry. Here are our top essentials to help prevent common injuries when out on day trips or even while away on vacation this summer. The most common ailments during the summer months are heatstroke, sunburn, cuts, eye injuries, fractures (these are very common considering wet tiles and pools!), dehydration, and allergies.

Proof that CPR can help Save a Life

I can’t even count the number of times participants have shown up to one of my classes utterly confused with what they believe are ever-changing CPR guidelines. They’ll ask how many compressions versus breaths they’re supposed to do or if they are even supposed to breathe in people anymore. Consistent information straight across the board is vital to saving lives. I absolutely love the news article from CNN that we linked at the end of the blog, which states that a teenage girl saved her best friend’s life the day after she took a CPR training class. She remembered 30 compressions and 2 breaths and put her training into action.

Barriers to Canadians Taking First Aid

Last week, we left off on number three of the five barriers I see to people taking first aid training. Number three, it's too complicated, and I leave feeling less confident. We have touched on this a little bit in the last two comments. If you make something overly complicated or use terminology above the participants' reading grade level, they will most likely leave feeling confused and not confident.

Barriers to Canadians Taking First Aid

I've said it before, the old way of doing things does not work and does not provide higher retention rates. We live in a world where attention spans are less than 10 minutes at a time. Having somebody sit for 14 to 16 hours in a classroom listening to an instructor drone on while switching power points is not conducive for adult learners.

Heart Attack Statistics - Women vs Men

I am an avid believer that showing stats will help participants understand the gaps. 92% of Canadians are 100% on board that children should begin learning First Aid in middle school and high school, but only 12?el confident that a child could help them during an emergency. We have been pushing for change in the schools to teach relatable information such as First Aid. The earlier we can start the education, we can increase our out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.

Good Samaritan Act

Last week, I wrote about how I was shocked at the inconsistent information retained by most of my participants from previous first aid classes. One thing I do hear over and over consistently is how people feel like they don’t have the skills to confidently save a life if needed, regardless of how many times they’ve taken first aid classes.

Automated External Defibrillators – Shocking Stats

Let’s talk a little bit about automated external defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs or what I like to call them in my class for ease of reference, the ‘shockey box.’

How do Providers Stack Up

How do providers stack up with giving bystanders the confidence they need in emergency situations.

Choking and Suffocation: In Infants Under One

The Importance of Common Sense in Life-Threatening Emergencies

Learn why common sense plays a crucial role in life-threatening emergencies. Life Start Training explains how practical thinking and quick decision-making can save lives in critical situations.

Occupational Health & Safety – Your Basic Rights

Occupational Health & Safety – Your Basic Rights

Why Online Learning Could Change the Face of First Aid

Why online learning could change the face of first aid.

Why is better equipment essential to retention?

Why is better equipment essential to retention?

Industry Standards – What Works and What Does Not

In 2013 Canadian Red Cross approached the CSA group in an attempt to create a national standard for first aid competencies and training. In April 2014, the advisory Council received strong support from regulatory members to create a national standard. There were 15 invited experts to the October 22, 2014 workshop.

Break the Stigma – Would You Know? (Part 2)

Mental health awareness

Break the Stigma..Some Stigmas are Meant to be Broken

Mental health awareness

First Aid Industry Standards – It’s 2021 Rant Part 3

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates have pretty well stagnated since 2012. That’s a DECADE with pretty much ZERO improvement!

First Aid Industry Standards – It’s 2021. Rant Part 2

Let’s talk standards. There are no standards out there today that specifically say: “Ok, here’s what you need for equipment and here are the areas instructors need to be proficient in.” There’s no outline that tells you what you should be doing or best practice for different components of your courses. There are no specifics on what should be done, or how training courses should progress through different levels of instruction.

First Aid Industry Standards – It’s 2021 Part 1

We’re going to start our story in 2013, when the Canadian Red Cross approached CSA Group looking to help create a national standard for first aid competencies and training.