Phil is one of our highly qualified Lead Trainers operating from Hampshire and has been with Nuco Training since 2013.
When did you first learn first aid and why?
I joined the Corps of Royal Engineers as a 16-year-old from school, and for the 9 years following this, battlefield first aid skills were a continual part of military training. Following my military career, I joined Hampshire Police and predominantly served as an Authorised Firearms Officer with the Traffic Division, attending countless road traffic collisions and therefore dealing with minor injuries to serious life-threatening injuries and sadly fatalities. The firearms first training was delivered by serving Paramedics and technicians so much learnt during my time serving as an AFO.
What made you choose to become a first aid instructor/trainer?
I retired from police service in 2012 and just wanted an easy life, so attended a course in order to gain the necessary qualification to allow me to carry dangerous goods by road as an HGV driver. As a result of this course, I was talked into teaching Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) to serving or prospective drivers in the haulage industry, which culminated in my catching a bug for the teaching/ training sector. I achieved my PTLLS level 4 Qualification and, as a result of teaching an element of first aid on the ADR courses, I approached NUCO Training where I qualified as a Level 3 First Aid instructor in 2013 and have never looked back. The support I have received from NUCO for the past 6 years has been outstanding and now I have the opportunity to pass on a lifetime of skills and experiences to new instructors and budding first aiders who want to make a difference out there. There are many challenges to becoming a first aid instructor but those challenges are worth meeting head-on.
What would you say to someone considering becoming a first aid trainer?
Just do it!! Fate played a huge part in my desire to become a first aid trainer, but everyone has life skills and experiences, which are transferrable. If you enjoy first aid and you enjoy imparting knowledge upon others, then take the challenge. There will be challenges, trust me!! But from every challenge, you will learn something and that will make you a better person. The support I have received from other Lead trainers and NUCO is second to none and I continue to develop by learning new things through every course I run. Can’t be bad, even at my time of life!
