In the crucial first few minutes of an emergency, the actions of an ordinary person can make the difference between life and death.
That belief is at the heart of Above All First Aid, a training business based in Neston, Cheshire, which is dedicated to giving people the confidence and skills to respond when it matters most.
Founded on the principle that first aid should be accessible, affordable and engaging, Above All First Aid has grown from a local training provider into a trusted name across Cheshire, Wirral, North Wales and the wider North West.
Rather than delivering one-size-fits-all courses, the company tailors its training for parents, schools, businesses, community groups and individuals, ensuring every learner gains practical, real-world skills they can use with confidence.
Founded almost five years ago by Zoe Weaver, the company believes that first aid training shouldn’t be intimidating: it should be interactive, memorable and enjoyable. This philosophy helps learners retain critical knowledge while building the confidence to act decisively during emergencies, whether they happen in the workplace, in schools or at home.
Zoe, 36, worked in a pre-school setting in Neston for 14 years before setting up her own business. As well as running Above All First Aid, she is also an emergency care assistant and a Community First Responder for the North West First Responder Group – dispatched by regional ambulance services to attend medical emergencies in her local area and frequently arriving at the scene within the first vital minutes, providing essential, life-saving care until an ambulance crew arrives.
She said: “To learn first aid is crucial. Little accidents happen around us every now and then, some go unnoticed, and some can be life threatening. I often find that people have no idea about first aid or how to use a defibrillator.
“But basic knowledge of first aid can help you a lot in an emergency. At your workplace, you might be responsible for others’ safety. As a first aid provider you must provide medical support until professional help arrives. First aid is required for injuries and illnesses. With a basic first aid kit, you can ensure the primary support required for the casualty.
“A defibrillator may look like a scary machine but once you’ve been trained to use it, it’s very simple to use. And you could save someone’s life with that knowledge.”
The knowledge from Zoe’s first aid training courses has helped numerous people to cope in an emergency situation.
“I had a message from a mother saying that it was thanks to a first aid training course I’d run at her daughter’s school that a fellow pupil knew what to do and acted fast when she was choking, potentially saving her life. That makes me feel good.
“Other people have told me they felt calm and capable in an emergency situation because they’ve used the skills I’ve taught them.
“People going into an office to work haven’t signed up to witness a bad wound or a heart attack but if you’ve had first aid training and can keep your head together for 20 minutes you’ll know what to do. Keep level, call an ambulance and treat what you can see. If someone’s bleeding, try and stop it. First aid is simple.
“I take massive pride in my work and love being able to make a difference to people’s lives.”
Zoe has recently created a new allergy awareness course to prepare schools and colleges ahead of Benedict’s Law, the name given to new allergy safety requirements for schools in England. It is named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old boy who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021, following a campaign by his family to strengthen allergy protection in schools.
From September, schools in England are expected to:
- Have a published whole-school allergy policy.
- Provide allergy and anaphylaxis awareness training for staff – not just designated first aiders.
- Ensure staff can recognise the signs of anaphylaxis and know how to respond.
- Keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) available where appropriate.
- Maintain individual healthcare plans for pupils with severe allergies.
- Improve record-keeping and communication around allergy management.
Zoe said: “Benedict’s Law is more than a change in guidance, it’s a reminder that every member of school staff has a role in protecting children with allergies. By investing in practical allergy awareness and anaphylaxis training, schools can create safer environments where confidence, preparedness and quick action have the power to save lives.
“We’re working with schools, colleges and early years settings to help them to recognise the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and the importance of prompt treatment and emergency response.”
About Above All First Aid
Above All First Aid provides a range of accredited and bespoke first aid training courses for businesses, schools, childcare settings, community groups and individuals. Training is delivered in an engaging and practical way, ensuring delegates leave feeling confident and capable of responding in an emergency.
Courses include:
- Emergency First Aid at Work (1 Day)
- First Aid at Work (3 Day)
- First Aid at Work Requalification
- Paediatric First Aid
- Emergency Paediatric First Aid
- Basic Life Support & AED Training
- Annual Refresher Training
- Bespoke First Aid Training tailored to specific workplace requirements
- Private parent sessions and kids sessions
- Anaphylaxis training
Zoe’s work with a group of Cheshire nurseries
Zoe has been working for a number of years with award winning nursery group Dunky’s Day Nurseries & Forest Schools.
The family run nursery group has seven nurseries across Cheshire and Warrington.
Zoe said: “I regularly go into Dunky’s Day Nurseries and train all their staff on paediatric and early years first aid.
“All our courses are industry recognised and come with a certificate that is valid for 3 years. It’s lovely to pop back in and top up their skills and to train new people who have joined the business.
“As a nursery they’re looking after a parent’s most prized assets – their children – so it’s so important to have the highest quality first aid training.”
Lesley Foulkes, Recruitment Manager for Dunky’s Day Nurseries, said: “We have been working with Zoe for over 5 years now and she completes all our Paediatric First Aid Training.
“Our teams really enjoy her style of interactive training as she makes them feel really comfortable and we always receive great feedback about her courses from our team.
“We like to have every member of staff completing paediatric first aid – from our nursery staff to our chefs and management team – because we know how important it is. Zoe trains our new staff within 2 months of them starting and existing staff renew their qualification every 3 years.
“At Dunky’s, we believe, and ensure that that all our staff are trained in First Aid to prepare for any scenario which may occur in the nursery.”
Above All First Aid is offering Inspire Cheshire readers a 10% discount on any first aid course booking for up to 12 delegates.
For more information contact Zoe Weaver on:
