What is the minimum age to enroll?

Minimum age is 8 years old; youth should be accompanied by an adult if appropriate.

Do I need prior CPR training to take Emergency Oxygen?

Yes. Emergency Oxygen requires a current CPR certification; you can schedule Basic Life Support and Emergency Oxygen back-to-back if you need both.

Are non-divers allowed to attend?

Yes. Basic Life Support and Diving First Aid are open to non-divers and meet broader safety requirements for boat operations.

How many students are in each class?

Classes are capped at four students to maximize hands-on practice and individualized coaching.

How do I schedule combined sessions or confirm prerequisites?

Call 941-370-3562 to arrange back-to-back courses, confirm prerequisites, or ask about upcoming dates.

Hands-On First Aid and Diving Emergency Courses in Punta Gorda

Q: Is certification recognized internationally?

Yes. Certifications issued at these courses are recognized worldwide and Basic Life Support meets U.S. Coast Guard captain and mate requirements.

First Aid Courses in Punta Gorda put practical emergency skills within reach of divers, boat captains, and coastal adventurers who spend time on Florida’s southwest shore. This hands-on training program, held in Punta Gorda, Florida, focuses on three core tracks—Basic Life Support (CPR and first aid), Emergency Oxygen for diving injuries, and a full Diving First Aid course—so you can respond confidently when seconds matter. The philosophy here is simple: practice until it becomes automatic. Classes are intentionally small, capped at four students, and run with real equipment rather than slides or simulations. In Basic Life Support you’ll rehearse one- and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants, AED use, bleeding control, splinting, and other time-critical skills. Emergency Oxygen emphasizes recognizing signs of decompression illness and delivering oxygen correctly; it requires a current CPR card or can be scheduled back-to-back with Basic Life Support. Diving First Aid combines both courses plus neurological assessment and treatment for hazardous marine life injuries—a single comprehensive option for busy divers. Certification is recognized worldwide and Basic Life Support meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for captain and mate licenses, making these courses valuable for professional mariners and serious recreational boaters alike. Every student leaves with a pocket mask to keep, a practical skills baseline, and documentation to present for licensing or employer needs. The setting in Punta Gorda matters. Located on Florida’s Gulf coast, the training prepares responders for incidents common to warm-water diving and boating—nearshore currents, overhead hazards, and marine envenomations. Local instructors emphasize scenarios that match the realities of Gulf encounters, not generic hospital protocols. If you plan to join, bring photo ID, comfortable clothing you can kneel in, and the willingness to get hands-on. Classes typically run four to eight hours depending on track selection. Small group sizes mean personalized coaching and repeated practice until techniques are smooth and reliable. These courses are more than certificates; they are practical readiness for the people who lead trips, captain boats, run charters, or dive with friends. In a region where access to recompression chambers can be hours away, an informed responder on the surface is an invaluable part of the safety chain. Call 941-370-3562 to schedule combined sessions or to confirm prerequisites and upcoming dates. Students as young as eight are welcome, so family trip leaders can train alongside adult chaperones and develop a shared safety approach. Non-divers, charter operators, and dive professionals all find value—Basic Life Support requires no prerequisites, Emergency Oxygen requires current CPR, and instructors will tailor scenarios to the local resources you’re likely to use. Because classes are small, instructors can time role-play rescues, stabilizations, and communication with emergency services so the skills consistently translate from practice to real incidents.