Emma Hammett established her Award Winning First Aid training business FirstAidforLife.org.uk back in 2007, but was initially inspired much earlier, when nursing; as she continually saw the difference prompt and appropriate first aid made to her patient's prognosis. Her key motivation came when working in the Burns Unit, looking after a little boy so badly burnt he needed skin grafts. Had his mother known basic First Aid skills, he might not even have needed to be admitted. Emma's sister and nephew both became paraplegics following accidents and it opened her eyes to the importance of accident prevention, management and support following an accident and an overwhelming need to empower more people with the skills and confidence to know how to help in those first vital seconds.
First Aid for Pets was inspired by Gus, who attended one of FirstAidforLife's teenage First Aid courses. Straight after the course, Gus went to his cousin's birthday party and whilst the caterpillar cake was being cut, the thick chocolate face fell to the floor and was greedily gobbled up by his beloved pug, Euston. Euston went very quiet, keeled over and collapsed.
Gus leapt into action and promptly used his new human first aid skills to save Euston. He picked up the dog, held him at an angle, squeezed him as he had been taught to do with a baby and out popped the chocolate caterpillar face in one piece! There was a stunned silence then the dog took a huge breath, started moving and struggled to his feet!
Gus' confidence and speedy response saved Euston's life.
Prompted by Gus's story First Aid for Life has worked with veterinary and canine experts to develop practical and online Pet First Aid courses and to produce this book First Aid for Dogs.
Emma is widely recognised as an authority on First Aid matters and regularly writes as First Aid Expert for numerous online and print publications and is frequently called upon as a TV spokesperson on Sky News, BBC, Channel 5 News.