Pasco CPR & First Aid Training

05/03/2026

Such an important reminder, especially heading into summer.

In my years working in aquatics and emergency response, it’s almost never during “swim time”… it’s the quick, in-between moments when no one realizes what’s happening.

That’s why layers of protection and simple habits matter so much.

Curious—what’s a water safety tip you’ve learned over time that really stuck with you? 💙

Most drownings don’t happen during swim time. ❤️‍🩹

They happen during the in-between.
The “I thought someone was watching” moments.

The quick distractions. The unlocked doors. The silent slips outside.
No suits. No plan. No warning.

This is why layers matter:
✔️ Constant, active supervision
✔️ Locked doors + pool barriers
✔️ Alarms that alert, not assume
✔️ Water competency for every child

Drowning doesn’t wait for permission.
And it doesn’t need a scheduled swim.
Stay ready—even when it’s not “swim time.”

05/02/2026

Florida consistently ranks among the highest in the country for childhood drownings — and is often #1 for drowning deaths in children ages 1–4.

As a former lifeguard instructor, and someone who has managed emergency response teams, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly these situations can happen…and how often they are preventable.

We talk a lot about layers of protection:
✔️ Pool fences & barriers
✔️ Door alarms
✔️ Supervision

All of those are so important…but they can fail. Gates get left open. Alarms don’t go off. Kids are curious and fast.

One of the simplest (and most powerful) habits you can teach your child is this:

👉 Always ask an adult before going near or getting into the water. Every single time.

Just like we teach kids not to leave the house without asking, we should be teaching the same thing about water.

Make it part of your routine:
“Can I go in the water?”
“Can I go near the pool?”

When this becomes second nature, it creates an extra layer of protection — one that doesn’t rely on equipment or chance.

It ensures an adult always knows when a child is going near the water.

These small, consistent habits can make a huge difference 💛

If you have little ones, start practicing this now — repetition is key!

05/01/2026

Would your teen know what to do in an emergency?

These girls were practicing CPR, using an AED, and working through real-life scenarios they could face at home, in public, or while caring for others.

The truth is, emergencies don’t just happen to adults. They can happen anywhere, and having the confidence to step in can make all the difference.

Our CPR/AED & First Aid classes are open to teens and adults, and our Babysitter Training is a great option for those tweens/teens who want to build confidence while preparing to stay home alone or care for younger children.

These are hands-on, real-life skills that go far beyond the classroom.

🚨 Final spots are filling for upcoming classes

If you’ve been thinking about getting your teen certified, or getting certified yourself, now is a great time ❤️

Comment “INFO” and I’ll send you details!

05/01/2026

May is National Water Safety Month 🌊

Water safety is something I’m really passionate about. Before teaching CPR and First Aid, I spent many years working in aquatics as a lifeguard, lifeguard instructor, managing lifeguarding teams and developing emergency response plans.

Over that time, I responded to and witnessed too many aquatic emergencies. What always stuck with me is how quickly things can happen, and how many of those situations were completely preventable with a few simple safety measures in place.

A lot of people think drowning is obvious or that they’d have time to react, but in reality, it’s often silent and happens much faster than expected.

Because of that, I really care about helping families feel more confident and prepared around water. Whether that’s at home, at the pool, or on vacation.

Throughout this month, I’ll be sharing simple, practical water safety tips for families, kids, and caregivers. Things that are easy to implement but can make a big difference 💛

Feel free to follow along, share with a friend, or drop any questions you’d like me to cover!

04/23/2026

Parent tip + a little real life humor 😅

One of the most important things you can teach your child is:

• their full name
• your home address
• how to call 911 from a locked cell phone

Sounds simple…until you realize one of your children is basically Dory from Finding Nemo 🐟😂

My middle daughter is 9, and we jokingly call her “Dory” because she swears she has short-term memory loss and can never remember anything… including our address.

One thing that helps? Put your address somewhere easy for them to find and read.

Think:

• on the fridge
• near the front door
• by the house phone or charging station
• inside a family emergency binder

That way, if they panic, they have a quick visual reminder.

And because kids are kids… we also worked on backup plans.

She knows she can:

• go outside and look for the house numbers
• describe nearby landmarks or places people would recognize
• tell responders a nearby school, park, or main road if she can’t remember the full address
• use those same tips if she’s somewhere else and doesn’t know that address either

And honestly, teaching kids how to call 911 now looks a little different than when we were kids.

We learned on landlines.
Most kids today have never even used one.

They need to know how to find the “Emergency Call” option on a locked cell phone and how to use it.

Practice it with them.

Show them where the button is.
Let them practice what to say.

If there’s ever an emergency, giving responders SOMETHING helpful is better than freezing up.

Kids do not rise to the occasion, they fall to their level of practice.

Practice these conversations at home. It feels silly… until it really matters.

Also please tell me I’m not the only one raising a tiny Dory 😅

04/19/2026

Your pets are family too ❤️🐾

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and I love that the American Red Cross offers a free Pet First Aid app to help pet owners be prepared for emergencies like choking, bleeding, allergic reactions, heat exhaustion, and more.

They also offer a fantastic First Aid app for humans that I recommend EVERY family download. Whether it’s a child with a fever, a choking emergency, a burn, bleeding, or knowing when to call 911, having quick access to reliable first aid guidance matters.

Even if you never take one of my CPR or First Aid classes, I still want you to be prepared when seconds count.

Knowledge saves lives ❤️

Download both. Keep them on your phone. Hope you never need them.

But be ready if you do.

This Pet First Aid Awareness Month, help protect your best friend.

From heat exhaustion and breathing trouble to stroke or cardiac emergencies, the free Red Cross Pet First Aid app puts expert guidance right in your pocket.

Text "GETPET" to 90999 to download. 📱 🐾

04/17/2026

Registration is now open for upcoming American Red Cross certification courses with Pasco CPR & First Aid Training 🎉

Current classes open for registration:
- Babysitter Training with CPR/AED/First Aid
- Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid

You can view class dates and register here:
https://www.pascocprtraining.com/class-schedule-and-registration

I’m also still working on adding a few other course options. If you see a class listed on my website that does not have open dates yet, please feel free to fill out the interest form on the site. That helps me plan future class offerings based on interest and availability preferences.

I’m excited to bring more training opportunities to our community 💛

04/13/2026

Hot take for summer pool parties 👇

Everyone plans for food, drinks, and floats…
But not everyone plans for safety.

If you’re hosting this summer, having a lifeguard is honestly one of the best investments you can make.

I highly recommend Manda’s Minnows. They offer certified lifeguards + water watchers for parties — which means someone is actually watching the water the entire time (not chatting, not distracted, not on their phone).

And from my side as a CPR instructor, I’ll add this:

Prevention and preparedness go hand in hand. Even with a lifeguard…Every parent should know CPR.

Because emergencies are rare…but when they happen, seconds matter.

If you’ve been putting off getting certified, summer is the time to do it. We will be releasing summer open enrollment dates within the next week. Check our page for updates and registration information.

🛟 HOSTING a SPRING or SUMMER POOL PARTY? 🛟

Hiring a Manda’s Minnows lifeguard means peace of mind for everyone. Our trained, certified guards are there to watch the water, respond fast, and keep swimmers safe—so hosts can relax and guests can just have fun. 🎉

Because the safest parties are the ones where safety comes first. 🛟

04/10/2026

Yesterday I helped a busy personal trainer stay certified and ready to keep her clients safe.

I know how hard it can be to fit a scheduled group class into an already packed schedule, which is why I offer flexible options that come to you, during a time that works for your schedule. Whether you need a private session, a semi private group, or a small team training, I make CPR and AED certification simple, convenient, and hands on.

If you or your team need to get certified or renewed, I would love to help.

04/09/2026

Stories like this are exactly why I do what I do.

This is someone’s dad. Someone’s grandpa. Someone’s whole world.

Two people took a CPR class…and just months later, they used those skills to save his life.

That’s the difference training makes.
Not perfection. Not experience. Just the confidence to step in and act.

You never think it will be you…until it is.

04/01/2026

One of the most common questions I get is this 👇

What is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

They are not the same and knowing the difference matters.

A heart attack is a circulation problem where blood flow to the heart is blocked.

Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem where the heart suddenly stops beating.

In cardiac arrest, immediate action is critical.

Call 911 and start CPR right away.

This is exactly why CPR training is so important. Most cardiac arrests happen outside of a hospital, often at home.

Would you know what to do?

03/28/2026

Today is National Choking Prevention Awareness Day!

Choking emergencies can happen quickly, especially with young children, and knowing what to do in those first moments can truly save a life.

One important update many people don’t realize is that current guidelines recommend a combination of:

✔ 5 back blows
✔ 5 abdominal thrusts for children and adults
✔ Repeat until the airway clears

For infants:
✔ 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts

These are simple skills, but they make a huge difference in an emergency.

If you’ve never learned choking rescue techniques or it’s been a while since your last class, I’ll be offering CPR, AED and First Aid classes locally very soon.

👉 Follow my page for upcoming class dates
👉 Comment “INFO” if you’d like early access before registration opens