Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Sarmiento.
Randy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Spring, TX – a small town about 45 minutes North of Houston, but was ultimately brought to San Diego by the U. S. Navy. I served 8 years as a Navy/Marine Corps Corpsman (FMF). Deploying in and out and serving in duty stations primarily here in the Various San Diego Area Bases.
Here in SD I met my Beautiful wife and started a Family. I have 3 beautiful daughters. Although I loved being a Corpsman, serving in the military, and loved deploying with my brothers in arms, not that it was a bad thing, but a truly wonderful thing, I decided to get out of the military due to my family. Deployments (especially the ones in the war written Middle East) were long and hard, and I knew that it would be even harder for my family.
Got out of the Navy and starting working for Rady Children’s as a Clinic Supervisor, and worked my way up the corporate ladder to becoming a Clinical Director of Operations for various Private Practices in San Diego Area. Although I was climbing up the career ladder and working at those various places, I started a small side business teaching First Aid and CPR. I actually got my Official American Heart Association Instructor Certification while I was in military (so since 2001 I have been teaching Marines and Sailors) and I definitely did not want that to go to waist, so just I dabbled in the business and kept my certifications up-to-date.
However, one day I suffer a layoff and decided to use my GI Bill to get a Master’s degree in Counseling. Again, while I was doing that I decided to use my little First aid and CPR business as extra income. When I finished my program, I had to make a decision on what was next. Of course, I could put to use my Degrees, and apply for other jobs, but there was an inkling for me to go in a different direction. I really loved teaching First aid and CPR. When I did it, it was like taking me back to the fleet, and truly you could see my passion come out as I taught. I wanted people to be prepared and safe, and not just that but to really understand what they are doing. Safety and Medicine was a part of my Corpsman DNA and not just any type of safety or medicine, but Emergency, Tactical, and Urgent.
Although I have heard of the Veterans Affairs (VA) helping Veterans Start up and grow their own businesses, I really did not know what it entailed, so I decided to look into what the Veteran Affairs had to offer in Helping Veterans develop their business. Ultimately what I found out was, at that particular time, by God’s Grace, the VA and the American Heart Association was doing a joint venture and was looking for a handful for veterans to start up their own business teaching First Aid and CPR. Coincidence, I think not … to me this was God’s sovereignty. Although I had already started, The VA’s Boot’s to Business program (is what they called it) increasingly helped me by re-developing and bringing structure to my business. So, in true essence, it was the VA along with the American Heart Association that helped me launch my own business. And it is because of them (and of course my past experiences) we have become Yelp’s #1 Ranked First Aid Class provider in San Diego.
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=First+Aid+Classes&find_loc=San+Diego%2C+CA&ns=1
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that it has been particularly a rough road, but I would say that of course, with any business, there have been a few bumps in the road. One of the major one, and one I am still working on (as we say “one student at a time”), is changing the culture of First Aid and CPR Training. Many people have been through a First Aid and/or a CPR Class (by the way they are different certifications – also a misnomer, but I will talk about that another time) and they say that it was boring but at least they learned something new. Or even worst, is that they had fun but didn’t really learn anything new. Although they may say either one, commonly they will all say that they still feel like they are not sure if they could do it in a real-life situation. Because all they did is tell them a whole bunch of numbers, showed them a bunch of videos, and told them to pump on a manikin’s chest.
As I stepped out of the military and was hearing this, I knew that I had something different and special. We were taught in the military, that just because they know how to do it, have done it before, or even have a charismatic personality and can make things fun, that does not mean you can teach. Teaching is an art and a gift, and not everyone can teach. They have to have instincts: knowledge and awareness of their audience, knowing when to have fun and relax, how to correct and develop a thought, and even when to be patiently walking side by side with them. Of course, having fun is great and we want to have lots of it, but that is not our primary focus. Our primary focal point is to take the focus away from just remembering/memorizing and put it into true understanding. Because we know that when somebody truly understands what is happening within the body and what need to be accomplished, then they can better treat/help that person. A) That is why we are very selective of who our Instructors are – they must be able to teach with excellence. B) That is why we cannot and will not ever teach big classes. Unfortunately, too many people have been to those classes, passed and didn’t retain anything. And this is the stigma of First Aid and/or CPR Class. Not all First Aid and/or CPR classes are the same. And that is what we are here for, to change all that. Just like in the military we give special attention to everyone that we teach. We know that this is important, and that we might have a life in our hands, so we will always give you our very best. Our gold is to change that Culture one student at a time. it may take some time, but we are up to the challenge.
Please tell us about Eagle 1 CPR.
Eagle 1 CPR: This veteran owned and operated company is a Premier American Heart Association Provider of CPR and First Aid Certification Courses. We are dedicated to teaching premium certification courses in a unique non-boring, interactive, military-style, hands on way. We specialize in giving basic and advanced First Aid/CPR classes that are not only War Fighter Field Tested, but also Medically and Publicly approved.
We help Families, Companies, and Individuals better prepare for medical emergency situations. We believe that human life is priceless and we see that helping one another is the greatest thing we can do for our community. Because of this, we strive to empower people to help and not freeze up in those situations.
What truly sets us apart from other CPR companies, is that Eagle 1 CPR instructors are all Military Veterans. They not only teach American Heart Association Certification courses, but do so emphasizing practical application in the modern-day age of technology, critical real-life adaptations, and true hands on involvement; all in a fun learning environment. Yes, we also promise to have a lot of fun in the midst of it, because we know that when people enjoy what they are learning, they remember it a whole lot more. Just like how we taught our fellow Armed Force Members. Because we are a quality over quantity driven team, we believe that smaller classes promote class participation, real life questions and answers (yes – we promote questions), and adapt the class properly to its present audience.
Also, what else we do differently is that we make House Calls. Whereas Families can schedule a date and time with us and we come out to their homes and in their environment and teach them First Aid and CPR. We believe that this is one of the most underserved demographic, and is the most important. Too many people do not expect that something could happen at home, and most don’t even know where or what is in their first aid kits. We want families to be prepared, and we want families to be able to help one another in emergency situations. We call it our VIP Family Package.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up in Spring Texas, and exploring through the woods and various creeks and also looking for various animals and fresh water creatures.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4445 Eastgate Mall
Suite #200
La Jolla, CA 92121 - Website: www.Eagle1CPR.com
- Phone: (619)846-2452
- Email: info@Eagle1CPR.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eagle1CPR
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eagle1CPR
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/eagle-1-cpr-san-diego-2?osq=First+Aid+Classes
Image Credit:
Randy Sarmiento
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