About This Project

             My name is Tamara Watkins, and I am a Certified Medical                        Assistant and Integrated Professional Studies student at the                    University of North Carolina at Greensboro. With over twenty                  years of experience in customer service and five years in the                    medical field, I have developed a deep understanding of the                  communication and accessibility gaps that often exist between              healthcare services and the communities they serve. My                          passion for public health, patient education, and community empowerment inspired the creation of this project—Mobile CPR and First Aid Instruction Service—as a way to bridge those gaps and make life-saving skills more accessible to everyone.

This project was designed to address the persistent inequities in access to CPR and First Aid training, especially in rural and underserved regions of Western North Carolina. Although certification programs are widely available, many people face barriers such as cost, transportation, and limited class availability. The mobile training model aims to eliminate those obstacles by offering convenient, affordable, and confidence-building instruction directly to neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Drawing from both academic research and professional experience, this initiative integrates principles of health communication, community engagement, and small business development. It will roll out in four strategic phases—community assessment, program development, pilot implementation, and evaluation for regional expansion. The model combines hands-on instruction with digital learning modules, ensuring participants retain both practical skills and confidence after certification.

Sustainability and long-term viability are central to this effort. By reinvesting revenue from partnerships into program outreach and equipment maintenance, the project is designed to grow into a self-supporting community enterprise. Over time, it could evolve into a regional network that enhances emergency preparedness and health literacy across diverse populations.

Ultimately, this project embodies my belief that empowerment begins with education. By bringing CPR and First Aid instruction directly to the people who need it most, the initiative transforms bystanders into capable responders—strengthening not only individual readiness but also the collective resilience of entire communities.