The First Aid Instructor

Like a lot of people who live in Roquefort we have a swimming pool and I'm always aware that accidents can happen very easily around oone. This was brought sharply into focus last summer when friends nearly lost their five-year old daughter while the adults stood metres away... 

I decided for this reason and because the last one I did was years ago, that I’d gather a group and we’d update our first aid skills and so that’s how I met the lovely Amanda Hollingworth from First Aid Sans Frontieres. 

The course was great and we all learnt a lot. We were five in my group and our training lasted about four and a half hours which was intensive with lots of hands-on practice. I feel better equipped to deal with all sorts of situations now that will hopefully never happen.

Amanda started her business on the Cote d’Azur at the beginning of this year, having re-trained for the whole of 2009.

She explained: ‘I was looking for a course myself, in English, but ended up doing one in French with the Protection Civile in Cannes. I realised that First Aid needs to be an accessible resource and something everyone needs to know so we offer courses in French and English.’

‘150,000 people died last year in the UK, through lack of First Aid knowledge, that’s four times more than deaths than from lung cancer!’

Originally a Londoner, born within the sound of the Bow bells, Amanda says the need to change her life brought her down to the south of France and she has lived here for five years with her children.

What’s the best thing about living in France?

Living here it is incredible to have the mountains and the sea and sunshine. I love having real seasons and then there are the people, the food, the wild flowers…

And the worst?

Building projects, builders and macons. Amanda is honest enough to admit ‘it was about a year before I could really talk French on the telephone.’

She says her favourite food is oysters and she loves all seafood and her favourite town is Cannes.

Do you miss anything in particular from the UK? 

Family.

What does the summer have in store for you? 

Work – training First Aid. And when I’m not doing that spending quality time with my children.

Who do you meet doing this job?

A very international mix of people, sometimes in clubs, or private families, retired people or yachties. I love the mix of people here, I have friends from all over the world, and that’s hugely inspirational.

Amanda urges readers not to leave it too late, but brush up your skills before you need them. She is running a three-hour summer Life Saving Special priced at just €45.

To visit her website click here or call 06 72 66 11 85 to book your place or find out more.