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!

The Psychological Challenges of Coping With a Traumatic Event

5/31/23
Medical Treatments and Cures: Changing Perceptions May Help Us All

5/29/23
Safe Exposure Limits For Different Substances in the Workplace

5/24/23
Tics (Habit Spasms; Tourette's Syndrome): Not Life Threatening, But Certainly Life Impacting

5/21/23 • (3)
Blood Pressure: Too High and You Die

5/18/23
5 Common But Harmful Chemicals in the Workplace

4/30/23
How to Call EMS (9-1-1)

4/27/23
Muscular Endurance: It Takes Years To Develop

4/26/23 • (1)
Anaphylactic Shock: Serious Condition That Can Come On Suddenly

4/24/23
Hypothermia: Tips For Preventing and First Aid For When It Happens

4/22/23
Basics For Your Medicine Cabinet

4/21/23
Walking to Lose Weight: Yes That's All It Could Take

4/10/23
7 Popular Diets Reviewed

4/06/23
The Reproductive Cycle of Cats

4/05/23 • (1)
Extreme-Weather Safety: Don't Underestimate Mother Nature

4/03/23
Breaking Your Addiction to Sugar: It Might Seem Impossible, But It Isn't

4/01/23
3 Types of Skin Burns and How To Treat Them With First Aid

3/23/23 • (12)
How to Safely Ride Your Bike In Traffic

3/12/23
Calculating Your Optimum Cycling Cadence

3/11/23
Bones and Joints: Quick Facts

3/09/23
Ride Your Bike Indoors Using a Turbo Trainer or Roller

3/05/23
Components: The Building Blocks of Every Bike

3/04/23
Maximizing Bike Rides To Lose Weight

3/03/23
Tires and Tubes: They Make the Bike Go Round

3/01/23
A Road Bike Fitting Will Maximize Performance and Comfort

2/28/23
14 Bicycling Mistakes: You're Guilty Of At Least One of These

2/17/23
Bicycle Cranksets and Chainrings: Round and Around We Go!

2/15/23
Proteins: The Essential Building Blocks of Muscle

2/04/23
Extreme-Cold Safety: Excessive Heat Loss Can Be Life Threatening

2/01/23
Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries: How To Treat With First Aid

1/30/23 • (10)
Stoma: Although Rare, First Aiders Encounter Someone With One

1/22/23
A Look at Common Physical Health Hazards in the Workplace

1/13/23
First Aid Barriers to Action: Don't Let Inaction Lead To Someone's Death

12/24/22
Large Machine Safety Checklist for the Workplace

12/20/22
Extreme-Heat Safety: Just Working Outside On a Hot Day Puts You At Risk

12/16/22
Machine Safety in the Workplace: Big or Small, Operate With Care

12/13/22
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?
(1)
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
(1)
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
(7)
Cardio Training or Weight Training: Your Choice Can Affect the Results
Bowlegs aka Genu Varum: Sometimes Self-Correcting
(3)
Ganglion Cyst: Annoying, But Thankfully Non-Cancerous
(7)
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
(2)
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
(1)
Ladder Safety: People Are Often Too Complacent
Metabolic Rate: A Key Metric for Weight Loss (and Gain)
New Or Experimental Medical Treatments and Therapies
Altitude Training: Getting a Performance Boost Has Its Risks
The Sense of Touch: Hardly Noticed, But Key To Our Survival
(1)
Swimming Drills: A Number of Ways To Perfect Your Stroke
Good (HDL) vs. Bad (LDL) Cholesterol: There Is a Significant Difference
Swimming the Breaststroke: Tips For Doing It Right
Why Diets Don't Work: Really They Don't
Working Safely with Compressed Gas in the Workplace
Legal Issues in First Aid: The Law Is (Mostly) On Your Side
(1)
Spinal Injuries: It's Worth Taking Extra Precautions
(2)
Vitamins and Minerals: An Overview
Ideal Body Weight: Is There Such A Thing?
Endurance Activities For Improving Your Overall Level of Fitness
Hemorrhaging: How to Apply First Aid
5 Exercise Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Workout
Maximizing the Benefits from Your Workouts
Organizing a Swimming Workout For Maximum Benefit
First Aid for Poisoning
(1)
Cardio-Cerebral Resuscitation (CCR): The New CPR?
Severe Bleeding: Take Immediate Action with First Aid
8 Ways To Lose Weight Permanently
Home Fitness Machines: Consider Your Options Carefully
10 First Aid Myths and Mistakes
(39)
First Aid For Snake Bites: Refuting The Advice of Movies
Common Cat Injuries and Emergencies You Should Be Prepared to Deal With
Blisters: The First Aid Is Counter-Intuitive
(2)
Understanding How Antioxidants Combat Free Radicals
Managing the Risk of Injury in the Workplace
Food Energy Sources: They're Not All Equal
Swimming the Butterfly Stroke: Difficult To Do, But Impressive Looking
Breathing Emergencies: Recognize the Signs of Respiratory Distress and Arrest
Fires in the Workplace: It's Easier To Prevent One Than To Extinguish One
Sport First Aid Kit: Keep It Stocked and Handy
Electricity Do's and Don'ts: How to Keep the Workplace Safe
(2)
First Aid for Electric Shock
Working Safely Above the Ground: The Higher You Are the Harder You Fall
Rapid Weight Loss: It Can Be Done, But It Likely Won't Last
The Atkins Diet Explained
What Is The Longest Amount Of Time Someone Has Had CPR And Survived?
(14)
Gaining Instead of Losing Weight When Exercising
Rescue Breathing: A Core Skill for First Aiders
Flexibility: Avoid Injury By Understanding Stretching Techniques
Working Safely with Hazardous Chemicals
Electricity Definitions: A Little Workplace Knowledge Can Go A Long Way
Cardiovascular Endurance: A Complicated Workout Isn't Required
(1)
Stress Fractures: A Fairly Common Issue For Active People
Ergonomics in the Workplace: Take It Seriously or Risk Long-Term Injuries
Clinical Death and Biological Death: They're Not Quite the Same
Detox: Fact vs. Fiction
Electrical Safety: A Hidden Danger Lurks In the Workplace
Farmer Crushed Under Tractor's Tires (Video)
3 Causes of Sore Muscles: Injury, Lactic Acid, Adaptation
Safe Lifting Techniques for the Workplace
Chronic Cycling Injuries: Heed the Warnings Or You'll Be Walking
First Aid For a Drug Overdose
Cardiovascular Fitness: The Foundation of Healthier Living
So You Want to Run a Marathon?
Respiratory System: Take a Deep Breath Before Reading
The First Aider's Role In An Emergency
(2)
Swimming the Backstroke: Understand the Proper Form and Technique
Health and Safety Policy
Frostbite: You Often Don't Even Realize You Have It
(2)
Keeping Your Cat Happy
(1)
Choosing a Swim Club for Adults or Kids
The 4 Most Common Bicycle Frame Materials
Weight Gaining Tips: How to Pack on Muscle
A Quick Look At Canada's Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)
How to Become a Life Guard
Margarine vs Butter: Which is Better For Your Health?
Working Safely with Gases: Preparation and Education Are Key
Heat Cramps, Exhaustion, and Stroke: An Escalating Series of Warnings
Hands Only CPR: Maximizing the Value of CPR
Workplace First Aid Kit: Having One Is a Legal Requirement
Equipment-Free Exercises: You Don't Always Need Machines To Feel the Burn
Sports Injuries Pictures: Not for the Squeamish
Health and Safety Glossary
Workplace Safety: Employer and Employee Responsibilities
Medications: An Important Part of Health Care, But Not Without Risks
Oxygen's Role When Used With First Aid and CPR
Vegetarian Health Benefits and Risks: Understand Before You Commit
Joining a Gym: Carefully Consider What You're Committing To
Trick Out Your Bike for More Fun (and Safety) With Accessories
A Guide to Buying a Used Bicycle
Eight Cat Myths Debunked
Types of Bacteria and Viruses: Be Afraid, Very, Very Afraid
Using a Shovel Safely: Despite Simplicity, Injury Awaits
Strep A (Invasive Streptococcus A): A Re-Emerging Global Threat?
(17)
Muscle: Interesting Facts, Names, and Function
(5)
10 Weight Loss Myths
Fall Arrest Systems: Your Backup Plan When Working At Heights
Sunburn: What It Is and How to Treat It
Why Workplace Accidents Happen
Hiking First Aid Kit: Plan Ahead Before You're Hours Away from Help
15 Exercise Myths That Just Won't Go Away
86 Phobias: Who Knew There Were So Many?
Swimming Freestyle: The Best Stroke for Improving Fitness
Angina Pectoris: The First Aid Assistance You Can Provide Is Limited
The Human Heart: The Most Important Muscle In Our Bodies
Workplace Vehicle Safety Check List
Plan a Fire Escape Route For You and Your Family
Sports Injuries Happen: Be Ready With An Emergency Action Plan
Digestive System: Following the Path Our Food Takes
Sports Injury Prevention: Nothing Is Fool-Proof, But Worth Trying
Bodybuilding Tips and Techniques
First Aid In The Workplace: Employers Are Responsible
Asystole: The Total Absence of a Heart Beat
Heat Rash aka Prickly Heat: What To Do About It
The Role of Human Guinea Pigs in Drug Tests
Do You Know How Many Calories You Are Eating?
Warning Signs of An Unsafe Workplace
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
(9)
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?
(1)