General News » Headline News » News

Lifebeats First Aid to support two local charities throughout 2021

February 18, 2021   ·   0 Comments

Although Simcoe County’s very own Mia Smilsky has been training people to save lives for the past 30 years, she’s not done giving back just yet.

Owner/Instructor of Lifebeats First Aid in Alliston, Smilsky will be celebrating her 30th anniversary by supporting Matthews House Hospice (MHH) and the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) through online certification and refresher courses by donation throughout 2021.

Proceeds from the first half of the year (February––June) will be donated to SMHF to fund critical equipment needs for the Stevenson Memorial Hospital emergency room. 

The first course, Infant CPR/Choking training, will take place online on February 28, from 1–4 p.m.; and the second course, Child CPR/Choking training, on June 19, from 2–5 p.m. also online.

Starting in July, focus will shift to supporting MHH, with two courses planned: Pet First Aid and Senior Home Alone First Aid – with dates to be confirmed.

With all of the courses valued at $40, Smilsky encourages registrants to pay what they can, with 100 per cent of all proceeds to the named charity. If attendants require certification paperwork, an additional $1 fee (not payable to SMHF or MHH) will apply.

On Thursday, February 18, Smilsky will celebrate 30 years teaching First Aid and CPR, as well as other courses, in Simcoe County. During that time, Smilsky has trained tens of thousands of people to save lives, with more than 5000 people trained in Alliston alone. 

“We train at work places in New Tecumseth, students for school programs, people who need it to apply for jobs, and people who want to learn to help their family,” said Smilsky. “I spent 20 years teaching for another company before starting Lifebeats First Aid in 2011, so Lifebeats is also having its 10-year anniversary in Alliston this fall.”

Courses offered at Lifebeats include: First Aid/CPR, N95 Mask Fit Testing, Home Alone, Babysitter Training, WHMIS, Teen First Aid, Pet First Aid, HCP/BLS CPR. 

“We also sell and maintain Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs),” said Smilsky. “We track and replace pads and batteries for several local companies and families.”

First Aid certification is valid for 3-years, and CPR training should be updated annually – “especially if you have an AED in the workplace or home,” adds Smilsky.

While COVID–19 restrictions remain in place, Smilsky says she’s following Health Canada guidelines but is keeping classes fun and informative while reducing class sizes to a maximum of 10 students. She is also offering online certification as an option. As an essential service, Lifebeats remains open as First Aid Training is the law for businesses. As an added bonus, during courses Smilsky is also showing students how to properly fit their masks.

“We are going above the Health Unit guidelines. We keep our masks on, wear gloves, and don’t breathe directly into the mannequins ,” stressed Smilsky. “Everything in the classroom is thoroughly disinfected after every class.”

Having raised funds previously for My Sister’s Place (the local women and children’s shelter) and the Alliston & District Humane Society, Smilsky says she’s chosen MHH and SMHF as her anniversary year recipients because both organizations have demonstrated need, and are important to the community.

“We feel it is very important to give back to our community, and we are so lucky to have a hospital right here in New Tecumseth,” said Smilsky. “We recognize the SMHF needs to fund raise continuously to ensure the hospital will be there for us when, or if, we need them.”

“Matthews House is also a very important resource. We have provided staff training for them in the past, and we also maintain their AEDs. We wanted to give back to this amazing cause, and support the work they do.”

Smilsky, who notes she still has “another 20 years in her for sure”, says the past 30-years has all been worth it.

“It is amazing to think of all the people who now feel confident it helping someone in an emergency. Knowledge is power! So many students who have chosen to step in, and step up, have gone on to save lives. They feel amazing, and I’m always glad when they share their stories with me,” said Smilsky.

Lifebeats First Aid Training and AED Sales is located at 103 Victoria Street, W. in Alliston. Find them online at www.lifebeatsfirstaid.ca. Call 705-250-LIFE (5433) or email info@lifebeatsfirstaid.com to reserve your booking for any of the four 30th Anniversary courses in support of SMHF & MHH.

Readers Comments (0)