Author: Peter Alexandrou

As a youngster I started working as a lifeguard during the summers. From there I developed a strong interest in lifeguarding and teaching first aid, which then led to becoming a certified instructor and examiner with the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian Lifesaving Society.

After graduating from York University, with a B.A. in Kinesiology, I took a position with the Canadian Red Cross in Toronto as their Safety Services manager. After a few years I started a first aid and CPR training company, offering courses throughout the greater Toronto area.

Because I wanted to share all that I've learned, I decided to write a first aid manual. Be sure to check it out!

Workplace First Aid Kit: Having One Is a Legal Requirement

4/17/25
Equipment-Free Exercises: You Don't Always Need Machines To Feel the Burn

4/16/25
Sports Injuries Pictures: Not for the Squeamish

4/02/25
Health and Safety Glossary

3/31/25
Workplace Safety: Employer and Employee Responsibilities

3/22/25
Medications: An Important Part of Health Care, But Not Without Risks

3/14/25
Oxygen's Role When Used With First Aid and CPR

3/13/25
Vegetarian Health Benefits and Risks: Understand Before You Commit

3/08/25
Joining a Gym: Carefully Consider What You're Committing To

3/06/25
Trick Out Your Bike for More Fun (and Safety) With Accessories

3/05/25
A Guide to Buying a Used Bicycle

3/01/25
Eight Cat Myths Debunked

2/24/25
Types of Bacteria and Viruses: Be Afraid, Very, Very Afraid

2/17/25
Using a Shovel Safely: Despite Simplicity, Injury Awaits

2/16/25
Strep A (Invasive Streptococcus A): A Re-Emerging Global Threat?

2/14/25
Muscle: Interesting Facts, Names, and Function

2/09/25
10 Weight Loss Myths

2/05/25
Fall Arrest Systems: Your Backup Plan When Working At Heights

1/29/25
Sunburn: What It Is and How to Treat It

1/27/25
Why Workplace Accidents Happen

1/23/25
Hiking First Aid Kit: Plan Ahead Before You're Hours Away from Help

1/22/25
15 Exercise Myths That Just Won't Go Away

1/18/25
86 Phobias: Who Knew There Were So Many?

1/16/25
Swimming Freestyle: The Best Stroke for Improving Fitness

1/15/25
Angina Pectoris: The First Aid Assistance You Can Provide Is Limited

1/14/25
The Human Heart: The Most Important Muscle In Our Bodies

1/12/25
Workplace Vehicle Safety Check List

1/10/25
Plan a Fire Escape Route For You and Your Family

1/08/25
Sports Injuries Happen: Be Ready With An Emergency Action Plan

1/01/25
Digestive System: Following the Path Our Food Takes

12/30/24
Sports Injury Prevention: Nothing Is Fool-Proof, But Worth Trying

12/22/24
Bodybuilding Tips and Techniques

12/20/24
First Aid In The Workplace: Employers Are Responsible

12/16/24
Asystole: The Total Absence of a Heart Beat

12/06/24
Heat Rash aka Prickly Heat: What To Do About It

12/04/24
The Role of Human Guinea Pigs in Drug Tests

12/01/24
Proteins: The Essential Building Blocks of Muscle

12/01/24
Do You Know How Many Calories You Are Eating?

10/28/24
Warning Signs of An Unsafe Workplace

10/26/24
11 Ways to Bike Ride Faster and Longer
Understanding Bicycle Braking Systems
Reasons Why Most People Don't Exercise a.k.a. Excuses!
Medication List and Information
What Are the National Lifeguard Service Course Requirements?
Swimming Starts: Practice Makes Perfect and Can Win You the Race
Stroke: Learn to Recognize One Because Time Is of the Essense
Biological Health Measurements: Definitions and Targets
Protozoal Infections: Prevention Is Easy and the Best Approach
Dangerous Chemicals in the Workplace: Take Precautions Before It's Too Late
Triathlons: It's Race Day, Be Prepared
Pedals and Cycling Shoes: These Shoes Were Made for Biking
Safety Working at High Altitudes
Teach Your Child How To Ride a Bike
Tool Safety: Even The Simplest Looking Tool Can Cause Severe Injury
Detached Retina: Can Now Often Be Repaired
Dangerous Bicycle Repairs: You're Risking Life and Limb
Heart Disease: It Manifests In Different Ways
Excavation Safety: Take Precautions When Digging At a Worksite
Sense of Smell: An Impressive Chemical Detector
Iron Deficiency: It's Fairly Easy To Avoid
Biking Essentials: What To Carry for Repairs and Safety
Car First Aid Kit: Handy in an Accident Until the Paramedics Arrive
Power Training: Combining Speed With Strength
When is the Best Time to Exercise?
The Reasons Behind Why You Trail Other Cyclists
Shock: Results in Possibly Fatal Low Blood Pressure
Need A Reason To Ride Your Bike?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): You Could Save a Life
Bicycle Chains: Everything You Need To Know
Kidneys: You Can Live Without One, But Better Not To
38 Bicycle Tools for Any Repair Job
Cancer Fighting (and Causing) Foods
Automated External Defibrillation (AED): Truly A Lifesaving Device
Carbohydrates: Learn to Recognize the Good From the Bad
Bradycardia: Extremely Poor Blood Circulation Can Kill
Frostbite: You Often Don't Even Realize You Have It
Brain and Nervous System: It's Worth a Thought or Two
Vascular Bleeding: The Most Common Are Petechia and Purpura
Different Ways to Measure Fat Levels in the Body
What to Put in a First Aid Kit: Limited Space Means Planning Ahead
Fats: Types, Sources, and The Role They Play in Your Diet
Asthma Attack: What It Looks Like and How To Help
Cardiac Arrest: CPR Could Prevent Death
Types of Biological Hazards
Excavating Safely While Below Ground At a Worksite
An Overview of Erosive and Non-Erosive Gastritis
Using the Right Torque For Bike Repair and Maintenance
How to Measure Your Overall Level of Fitness
Integumentary System: It Is Only Skin deep
Window Washing Safety Checklist
Jaw Thrust: Best Suited When a Neck or Spine Injury Is Suspected
Diet Warnings: Believing the Hype Is Dangerous
Conventional Medicine: A Brief History
Nutrition and Diet Myths
Sport Enhancing Drugs
Do Athletes Need Extra Protein?
Convulsions: How to Use First Aid to Help
Fire Ant Bites: First Aid When Bitten
Explosives Safety in the Workplace
Pityriasis Rosea: Scary, But Usually Temporary
Bones: Names, Descriptions and Factoids
A Brief Look at Antibiotics
Emergency Bicycle Repairs: Brilliant Ideas to Get You Out of a Jam
Zoonotic Diseases and How Your Cat Can Make You Sick
Drugs and Cheating in Professional Bicycle Racing
7 Types of Heart Disease
Sense of Sight: A Quick Look
2 Types of Choking Emergencies and How to Help with First Aid
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
Whey Protein: A Good Supplement To Food-Based Protein
Pressure Related Injuries: Most Commonly A Result of Not Following Diving Protocol
Energy Systems of the Human Body
Secondary Drowning: The Danger Exists And There Is Little Warning
Kinesiology: What Does It Mean?
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: 1 Out of 3 Could Benefit
Warning Signs of a Sick Cat
Breathing and Circulation: A Quick Lesson On These Processes
Allergic Reactions to Latex Gloves: Immediately Seek Medical Help
Your Yearly Physical Check Up: A Checklist of Standard Procedures
When to Call EMS (9-1-1): When In Doubt, Call
Warming Up and Cooling Down Before and After Exercising
Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist About Medications
The Immune System: The Never-Ending War That Keeps You Alive
Strength Training: Tips To Help You Achieve Your Goals
The Anatomy of Bicycle Wheels: Around and Around We Go!
Retirement Income Funds (RIF): Forced Withdrawals To Trigger Income Tax
Understanding Speech Defects Such As Aphasia, Dysphonia, and Stuttering
9 Types of Bicycles: A Perfect Pick for Every Pedaler
Workplace Safety Risk Assessment: Perform One Regularly
Returning to Play After a Sports Injury
Sense of Taste: 4 to 6 Tastes Depending On Who You Ask
Safety Equipment in the Workplace is a Must
Funny Workout Pictures
Bicycle Gears: Often Poorly Understood Making For a Tougher Ride
Tachycardia: Faster Heart Beat, But Less Blood Flow
Teeth: A Closer Look Out Our Pearly Whites
Heart Attack: When and How To Respond With First Aid
An Overview Of How the Cardiovascular System Works
Muscle Types and Their Function in the Human Body
Head Injuries: Don't Delay, Seek Medical Attention
The Psychological Challenges of Coping With a Traumatic Event
Medical Treatments and Cures: Changing Perceptions May Help Us All
Safe Exposure Limits For Different Substances in the Workplace
Tics (Habit Spasms; Tourette's Syndrome): Not Life Threatening, But Certainly Life Impacting
Blood Pressure: Too High and You Die
5 Common But Harmful Chemicals in the Workplace
How to Call EMS (9-1-1)
Muscular Endurance: It Takes Years To Develop
Anaphylactic Shock: Serious Condition That Can Come On Suddenly
Hypothermia: Tips For Preventing and First Aid For When It Happens
Basics For Your Medicine Cabinet
Walking to Lose Weight: Yes That's All It Could Take
7 Popular Diets Reviewed
The Reproductive Cycle of Cats
Extreme-Weather Safety: Don't Underestimate Mother Nature
Breaking Your Addiction to Sugar: It Might Seem Impossible, But It Isn't
3 Types of Skin Burns and How To Treat Them With First Aid
How to Safely Ride Your Bike In Traffic
Calculating Your Optimum Cycling Cadence
Bones and Joints: Quick Facts
Ride Your Bike Indoors Using a Turbo Trainer or Roller
Components: The Building Blocks of Every Bike
Maximizing Bike Rides To Lose Weight
Tires and Tubes: They Make the Bike Go Round
A Road Bike Fitting Will Maximize Performance and Comfort
14 Bicycling Mistakes: You're Guilty Of At Least One of These
Bicycle Cranksets and Chainrings: Round and Around We Go!
Extreme-Cold Safety: Excessive Heat Loss Can Be Life Threatening
Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries: How To Treat With First Aid
Stoma: Although Rare, First Aiders Encounter Someone With One
A Look at Common Physical Health Hazards in the Workplace
First Aid Barriers to Action: Don't Let Inaction Lead To Someone's Death
Large Machine Safety Checklist for the Workplace
Extreme-Heat Safety: Just Working Outside On a Hot Day Puts You At Risk
Machine Safety in the Workplace: Big or Small, Operate With Care
Ground Level Worksites Can Still Be Dangerous
Underwater Construction Safety: Unique and Increased Risks Abound
Viruses: Living Organisms That Invade Our Cells
First Aid For A Baby Stung By A Scorpion?
Hyperventilation: Too Much of a Good (Oxygen) Thing
Sprains and Dislocations: Everyone Has Had Them, But Many Treat Improperly
Triage: Maximizing Care With Limited Resources
Emergency Action Principles: These Will Maximize Your Efforts
Diseases and Infections: We Are Constantly Battling Viruses and Bacteria
Influenza a.k.a The Flu: The Virus That Everyone Knows About
Funny Dieting Pictures
Leukemia: Mild and Chronic Lymphocytic and Myelogenous Leukemias
Cardio Training or Weight Training: Your Choice Can Affect the Results
Bowlegs aka Genu Varum: Sometimes Self-Correcting
Ganglion Cyst: Annoying, But Thankfully Non-Cancerous
Aerobic Exercise Conditioning For a Longer and Healthier Life
Sense of Hearing: Just How Do We Hear Sounds?
Diabetes Explained: 2 Common Types and 1 That's Less Common
12 Types of Bone Fractures
Body Image and Perception: It's Usually Wrong
Barefoot Running: Does Running Without Shoes Make Sense?
When to Call a Doctor: Denial Can Lead to Death
11 Tips for Healthy Living: Small Things Can Make a Huge Difference
Competitive Swimming: Knowing the Race Rules is Critical
Ladder Safety: People Are Often Too Complacent