First Aid Direct Start Up
Growing up in a small village outside Cashel, I was fascinated by the various sports being played in the town and the diversity of sport in nearby Rockwell College. I learned early in life the importance of sport in building community and the opportunity it offered for preparing the young athletes for the challenges of life itself.
As a young married man, now living in Dublin I became involved with Ballyboden Saint Enda’s GAA Club. It was here that I would immerse myself in preparation for the role as a responsible club team manager. I knew that this commitment would involve a return to college part-time and further study.
Over the next few years I attended UCD and obtained diplomas in both Sports Medicine and Sports Physiology a year or two later I would become a Registered First Aid Instructor. In my job as a mechanical engineer for a multinational FMCG company I was asked to accept the position of Health & Safety Coordinator with responsibility for over 1500 employees.
During my years of study I analysed many sports from all angles including, Referees, Managers, Coaches and Physiologists etc in order to get close up and personal understanding of their methods. I appreciate the importance of proper coaching from warm up pre sport activity to cooling down, managing acute injuries and the prevention of foreseen preventable injuries.
This was the real opportunity to continue my passion and start up First Aid Direct, supplying first aid products and health and safety training.
First Aid Direct launch night was in Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA Club, December 1996, with many sporting legends in attendance to lend support. Some notable legends as: Emmet Carroll, Dublin Hurling; Michael Duignan, all Ireland winner Offaly , all Star and TV Commentator; Brian Stynes, all Ireland winner Dublin and Australian Rules star; Nicky English, all Ireland winner Tipperary and TV Commentator.
First Aid Direct – Mission Statement:
We exist to enable all participants in Sport and at Work enjoy and achieve their desired potential safely. We empower people achieve their potential.
Who are our target customers?
Our target customers are all Sporting Organisations, Commercial Businesses, and Hospitality Sector, Restaurants, Pubs, Fast Food Chains, Schools, and Child Care etc.
What problem(s) are we solving?
We are solving the problems of our customers by provide products (First Aid Supplies) and services such as (Health and Safety training) and to meet their needs and expectations in providing safe places for work and play.
Why does the problem need fixing?
The problem needs fixing because all organisations and businesses have a duty of care to providing and maintaining a healthy and safe environment for everyone.
Neglect health and safety risk prosecution, prolonging recovery time in sport, increase absenteeism from work, reduce profitability with increased costs etc.
This duty of care is covered by Statutory Legislation underpinned by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) who are responsible for enforcing health and safety at work. These regulations are also enforced by both Civil and Criminal law.
What is our solution to their problem?
Our solution to our customer’s problem is: we provide a wide range of courses in Dublin and throughout the country such as: paediatric first aid, manual handling courses, fire warden training, HACCP training, food safety, infection prevention and control, personal protective equipment (ppe), working at heights, safe work in confined places, emergency first aid. We also provide first aid kits, sports first aid kits, first aid refills, and all first aid consumable products.