St John Ambulance First Aid Training Farnham - Farnham

Zack W.

First aid in the workplace has literally never been taught in a fun and interactive way before Holly Probert started instructing!

What is the usual reaction when you are heading to a course related to anything with work? Mine too! I rolled my eyes, took a deep breath and prepared for boredom, especially because my last first aid in the workplace course was delivered by PowerPoint, word for word in Guildford 4 years ago (roughly).

Anyway, PowerPoint was used by Holly, however not to read out monotonously and kill all my braincells in the process, noooo. In fact a PowerPoint had never been so fun, and I can say that wholeheartedly. Why you ask? Well, let me tell you...

Holly delivers some pretty hard to swallow and difficult to talk about subjects with poise, care and attentiveness. Holly as a trainer is gold standard. They shared some awesome hacks that I'm aware St John came up with but I'm also aware of just how much craft goes into delivery. Holly is a master of the teaching craft, let's take seizures, quite early on day 1 I had shared with our group of the two times I'd administered first aid in the workplace (both being a seizure) now, 1 was when I first did my course all those moons ago... to a casualty that was unknown to me personally, the 2nd being just a month ago, to a friend and colleague that I knew. You see there's a difference in how I felt with both, when I helped the 1st casualty, I felt fine, no mental issues now the 2nd person, well let's say opening up about it has been hard. Holly recognised the trauma I still feel and was compassionate, caring and above all considerate of my feelings. Holly thanked each of us for sharing whenever we felt inclined and always checked we were okay! Day 3 rolled round and Holly had to cover the subject of seizures in full detail, now I sat there in silence as we weaved through a very serious subject... Until I couldn't, I snuck away to go to the bathroom (to cry, the walls felt like they were closing in) when I came back she was finishing the slide, allowed me a few moments to gather myself, recapped and then sent us to break... I shifted, fast to get to the door ( I must add I was one of 5 delegates from the same company and 1 of those was my own fiancé) what followed was an act of human empathy above and beyond, this was something I'd seen her do over the other 2 days time and again. Holly and my fiancé came to find me... Holly checked my wellbeing and let me sit, cry and get it all out, both her and my fiancé were incredible, I clearly need to stop brushing it aside I need to deal with how I feel. For this I am grateful, and for everything else I have felt I could share with the group and Holly!!

As a 5 we have all agreed that Holly was incredibly knowledgable (yes I know it's her job) incredibly insightful, the intuition Holly has for empathy and kindness is next level and unrivalled. For such a young person Holly is wise beyond their years.

Don't get me wrong this was still as serious a subject as it should be but somehow after every dark moment there was light, Holly did that effortlessly, if Holly shared she was cautious that we may not like the story and insisted on only telling us what we wanted to know. It won't always be easy as a first aider and there may be scary situations but I truly feel that because of Holly, we as a group are better prepared. I didn't feel this way 4 years ago, there was doom or gloom. That's it. And with this course, Holly ensured we knew there may be doom and gloom but we will be prepared and more aware of the AMPLE ways to deal with each situation as it arrives 😎

St John ambulance have a star in their ranks, I just hope they know it! Because not 1 moment of the 3 day course felt dull or boring and that is some talent in itself!

Thank you St John ambulance, but more importantly, Thank You Holly, this silly bloke learned and he had fun doing it ☺️

P K.

Daniel J.