Our latest recruit to join the Mini First Aid family is Caroline Boyd who will be running our brand new franchise, Mini First Aid Armagh, South Down and Louth! We thought it would be great to get to know Caroline a little better . . .

Hi Caroline, can you introduce yourself, your family and where you live?

My name is Caroline Boyd and I am married to Tim. We have three feisty kids Ayla, Sophie and Ben, and live in Newcastle, a beautiful part of Co. Down in NI, where we are blessed to be beside the sea and the magnificent Mountains of Mourne. I have six siblings and many nieces and nephews! Family life is very important to me and so are my hobbies which include running, hill walking and cooking.

Tell me about some of the jobs that you have had in the past . . .

I have been a registered nurse for over 20 years, having experience in ICU and ED, district nursing, and more recently as a clinical teacher. I travelled and worked in Auckland, NZ and more recently in Vancouver Island, Canada, where I worked as an ED nurse. The hospital I worked in was quite rural and nurses often had to transfer very ill patients across to the regional hospitals for more complex care. In order to feel more confident in doing this, I took my Advanced Life Saving course. I loved my time here and gained a lot of practical experience in dealing with rapidly changing situations. On returning home, I completed my Specialist Practice Diploma in community nursing, my tissue viability and wound management certificates and then my MSc in Nursing, which gradually led me into clinical teaching, a role that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

What lessons has your work taught you?

Working in healthcare has taught me that people genuinely want to help others to do well and get better. Often, they are interested in learning new skills to be able to do that. People are amazingly adaptable, resilient, and genuinely interested in making the right choices to stay fit and healthy. I have also learnt that in emergencies, early intervention offers the best outcomes and so equipping people with first aid skills is a huge step in the right direction.

 Who has been the biggest influence on your life? What lessons did that person teach you?

I have had so many positive influences on my life so far. Firstly, my parents, for always encouraging me to seek happiness, adventure and fun. My husband, for gently pushing me towards my goals and rationalising my fears. And several nurses over my career who have taught me how to show compassion and empathy, that knowledge is powerful and learning is fun, and that every person is important.

What lessons has being a parent taught you?

• All babies are different and what worked for one baby or child will not work for another!
• How much I respect my mum and other mothers; I don’t think you can truly understand the sacrifices mums make until you become one.
• Time is precious and goes too fast, don’t waste it.

If you could do it all again (parenting), what would you do differently?

Try not to overthink and overread, and try not to prepare for every possibility, it’s just impossible! Be in less of a hurry…I think I would try to achieve less, and focus on spending more time just being with the babies – they grow up too fast.

What are/were your main fears as a parent of a baby/toddler?

I was terrified of something awful happening. I had two cousins who died in infancy of cot death, so I was really worried about that and did a lot of reading up on how to prevent it. I also got really worried any time one of them got a high temperature, as they appeared really glassy-eyed and ‘flat’. At the toddler stages, I hated when they climbed things and felt that I was always ‘hovering’ in case they fell! I always remember my mum freaking out when one of us got hurt…and could now totally understand her reaction!

What are your dreams for running your own business?

• To raise the awareness of First Aid in my community and share my passion for learning
• To empower adults and kids with the knowledge and skills to help themselves and others
• To be the ‘go-to’ person for First Aid in schools in my franchise area
• To do all of the above while prioritising time for my kids, husband and hobbies!

Have you ever been in a first aid situation or emergency situation before?

I have been involved in many emergency situations throughout my career, but dealing with an emergency in my workplace is entirely different to dealing with one at home, something I learned when my father in law collapsed at our house one New Years Day and I had to do CPR. Although gripped with fear, the adrenaline kicked in and I instinctively knew what to do, having had the practice of doing it before.

Why do you think learning first aid is so important?

Having the knowledge and confidence to be able to deal with an emergency can help to save someone’s life or reduce the likelihood of serious injury. Statistics show that most accidents happen in the home so learning first aid is an invaluable life skill that can give you the confidence of knowing when and how to act in an emergency. Even knowing the basics of first aid can prevent a bad situation getting worse, and buy someone time for the emergency services to get to them.

What makes you different from other local first aid trainers/businesses?

Mini First Aid is more accessible than other local first aid trainers as we offer classes at many different locations, and at times that suit both stay at home and working parents. We also welcome babies and toddlers to our classes so that parents don’t have to worry about childcare, and our classes are delivered in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Why should people book onto one of your classes?

Mini First Aid have developed multi-award winning classes that are designed to equip parents, grandparents and carers with the knowledge and skills to be able to deal with emergency situations. I am excited to bring Mini First Aid classes to families in my area. I have the skills to deliver these classes in a fun, informative and memorable way, and a wealth of knowledge and advice to share.

To book a class with Mini First Aid Armagh, South Down and Louth click here