Rubicon First Aid Ltd :: Company Profile.

Rubicon First Aid Ltd, was originally formed in 1996, by Mark Harris as Emergency Aid Training (EAT), and was based on the scenic Black Isle just north of Inverness. One of the earliest Medic First Aid training centres (number 031), it soon established itself as a popular choice for first aid training by business and local communities.

Initially specialising in providing a mobile service for a First Aid at Work and Appointed Person courses to the business community, this soon expanded to include general courses for the public and paediatric courses for families. These courses were run in conjunction with the Highland Regional Council's Community Education Department. Growing quickly, and gaining regular contracts from prestigious hotel chains, and the Scottish Water Authority, additional staff were required.

A small but enthusiastic team drawn from experienced mountain rescue members and others with an NHS background were soon busy supporting Mark, and generating further work, including local community defibrillation courses, and specialist courses for NT Scotland staff in the north west.

Mark route assessing for a Cairngorms Trek.

At the same time as setting up and developing EAT, Mark continued to work freelance as an outdoor instructor, helping to run Duke of Edinburgh Open Award groups, and working with Wild Country Expedition panels. He also worked for the Highland Field Studies centre and an independent hill guide, having achieved assessment as a Summer Mountain Leader in 1992.

The combination of first aid training and outdoor activity experience led to Mark training as a specialist Outdoor Activity First Aid Instructor, and saw the first of many challenging courses run at a scenic but remote location on the Black Isle. Our reputation spread quickly and widely as clients travelled from as far away as Northern Ireland and Pembrokeshire to attend these residential courses.

Using trained casualties with wound simulation and group exercises, clients were able to learn in a challenging but fun atmosphere. In 1999, Mark relocated to the picturesque Royal Forest of Dean and EAT became Rubicon First Aid Ltd. Whilst continuing with Health and Safety courses and working freelance for a wide variety of organisations (commercial, charitable and educational), Rubicon First Aid concentrated on the provision of straightforward, practical first aid courses for the outdoors and other adventurous work or pursuits.

In 2003 Rubicon First Aid were approved by the National Safety Council in the United States (equivalent to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK) to deliver the Wilderness First Aid Programme, developed in conjunction with the Wilderness Medical Society. This programme is now being produced as a challenging vehicle for building individual and team development skills.

Mark is also a member of the Institute for Outdoor Learning, and the Wilderness Medical Society.

Elaine Harris.

Elaine in the Lake District.

Environmental, Community and Charity Policy.

As much of our business and work involves use of, or is reliant upon, the outdoor environment as a resource, we try to minimise our impact upon it.

We are not perfect but we try to do our bit…

England Office for all bookings and enquiries for training in England
11 Wesminster Road, Redhills, Exeter, Devon, EX4 2LL

Scottish Office for all bookings and enquiries for training in Scotland
2 Cromarty Place, Milton, Ross-shire, IV18 0RB

Contact Telephone for Both Offices: 0782 444 9011