The History of HealthFirst
HealthFirst was founded in 2008 by Dr. Michelle Wright and Dr. Penny Fraser. The organization was created as a way to meet the needs for first aid training and the promotion of general health for the English speaking community in Geneva. Since that time, the organization has expanded, not only with its course offerings, but the locations in which the courses are offered. All classes are evidence based and taught by highly qualified instructors.
HealthFirst Today
Today, HealthFirst is still led by Dr. Michelle Wright and Dr. Mecky McNeil, who took over for Dr. Penny Fraser, after she moved on to focus on the clinical side of medicine. Dr. Mecky McNeil has focused on the mental health side of the organization since 2018.
All of the classes offered by HealthFirst are taught in English by trained professionals. The staff at HealthFirst consists of 15 specialists in their fields with diverse backgrounds and skill sets.
After recently completing the CPR and First Aid Course as well as the Swiss Resuscitation Council Basic Provider Course, I felt compelled to reach out to HealthFirst. I believe the courses they offer the English speaking community are not only fantastic, but can literally be lifesaving. Ali Mackinnon, the Marketing and Communications Coordinator was kind enough to field several of my questions about HealthFirst.
Question (Melinda):
We covered in the opening that HealthFirst was founded to meet the needs for first aid training and the promotion of overall health in the English speaking community. Can you please inform our readers about the mission of HealthFirst or the value proposition of the organization?
Answer (Ali):
We maintain the highest professional standards and our services reflect the latest international guidelines and practices. This means that companies and individuals can be certain that they are getting the best training using the most up-to-date methods from highly qualified health care professionals.
Our English-speaking clients appreciate that the courses are led by native English-speaking doctors, nurses and midwives who adapt and tailor their teaching to their specific needs.
Question (Melinda):
From my overview of your website, it appears as though you currently offer courses to companies, schools and the general public. Does HealthFirst provide specialized courses depending on the needs of your clients?
Answer (Ali):
All of the courses offered through HealthFirst are approved courses that are evidence based, coming from a real point of knowledge from trained professionals. We try to keep the course offerings straight forward and simple for groups. If a group has a course that is of interest, if a location can be secured, a course can be tailored to fit the specific needs of that group.
HealthFirst currently offers the following courses:
• Health Seminars and Workshops
• First Aid Training
• CPR and Emergency First Aid for Babies and Children
• First Aid Training for the Swiss Driver’s License
• Swiss Resuscitation Council Basic Provider Course
• ensa Mental Health First Aid Training
• Health and Well-Being Coaching
• Health Screening Assessments
• Relationship and Sex Education
Question (Melinda):
What can one expect to learn in a CPR and First Aid Training Course? What is the general format of the course? How many hours must one devote to a course and for whom are these classes designed?
Answer (Ali):
The CPR and First Aid Training courses are four-hours in length. The classes are designed to be interactive, with a step-by-step approach to medical emergencies, which include Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to babies, children and adults. The course also covers First Aid for choking and an introductory lesson on using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
The online course, Saving Young Lives, is four and a half hours long, which provides enough time to make sure the trainer sees everyone practice chest compressions in break out rooms.
The course is designed for adults and children from the age of 14, who want to feel empowered to manage their own health and that of others by being able to assist in an emergency.
Once an individual has successfully completed the course, they are granted a course certificate that is valid for two years.
Question (Melinda):
It appears as though HealthFirst offers their courses in many areas throughout Switzerland. Can you please tell us where classes are currently being offered?
Answer (Ali):
Courses are currently offered in: Basel, Zurich, Zug, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, and mountain communities throughout Switzerland. At the moment, we are working with 40 international schools to offer onsite courses. In addition, we travel to companies and organizations to offer our standard courses or specialized classes based on individual needs.
Question (Melinda):
ensa Mental Health Courses appear to be a new addition to your course offerings. Can you please provide us with a bit of background on these courses?
Answer (Ali):
Yes, we currently offer ensa Mental Health First Aid with a focus on adults and one with a focus on youth. The courses are internationally recognized and provide the opportunity for individuals to gain insight on how to support family, friends and even colleagues who may be experiencing difficulties with mental health.
Question (Melinda):
If someone wanted to register as an individual or an organization, how would they go about signing up for a course?
Answer (Ali):
To register for classes, the best place to do so in our the HealthFirst website. Companies can register under the “For Companies” tab on our website, schools may register under the “For Schools” tab and the public may register under the “For the Public” tab.
Please note, that only the public can register for a course through the HealthFirst website. The schools and companies should contact us at contact@healthfirst.ch to discuss their individual requirements and to arrange a conversation with either Dr. Michelle or Dr. Mecky if necessary.
If you are interested in a course that you do not see offered on our website, please reach out to HealthFirst directly.
Actionable Steps to Take Now
The first steps individuals can take to move in the right direction for health and safety are:
Have accessible at all times the list of Swiss emergency numbers.
Ambulance: 144
Fire: 118
Police: 117
Rega (air rescue): 1414
Poison: 145
Europe-wide Emergency Number: 112
Download the following apps on your phone:
EchoSOS : This is an emergency app designed to provide the user with emergency calls, local emergency numbers, your personal emergency details and the nearest emergency rooms in the area.
Staying Alive : This free app provides location sites for defibrillators worldwide.
Register for a CPR and/or Emergency First Aid Course.
Register for a CPR and/or Emergency First Aid Course today. You never know when you might need the lifesaving skills provided in the classes. The person who may need you the most might just be someone you love.
Have medical phrases in German available.
It is advisable to have a translation of medical phrases in German available in the event of an emergency.
Help! - Hilfe!
I need an ambulance - Ich benötige einen Krankenwagen.
My address is - Meine Address lautet
There has been an accident on - Es hat einen Unfall gegeben
Road traffic accident - Verkehrunsfall
Well - Stocked First Aid Kits
Have a well - stocked First Aid Kit available in your home and car at all times.
Travel with a First Aid Kit as well.
Thank you for your time Ali. The courses offered by HealthFirst are phenomenal and I thank you and everyone for the services you provide.
For those looking for helpful information pertaining to health and safety, please have a look at the HealthFirst website. The blog portion of the website is rich source of information and don’t forget to tune into Dr. Michelle’s weekly show on World Radio Switzerland.
Or you can head over to their website to catch up on any you might have missed.
HealthFirst
Sàrl, 5, rue des Sablières,
1242 Satigny
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 21 921 1415
Instagram: @healthfirst.ch
*Note on images - the HealthFirst logo is courtesy of HealthFirst and the other images are stock images thanks to Wix.