A Master Trainer for 15 years, Marge LeStarge has been teaching MEDIC FIRST AID since 1983 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

A Registered Nurse in the state of Wisconsin, Marge worked as a community health nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee in the early 1980s. St. Francis was using the American Heart CPR program when the department decided that it wanted to offer First Aid also.

The hospital taught the Red Cross program for awhile but wasn't happy with it. A colleague told her about a new program called MEDIC FIRST AID. Marge looked into it, went to Chicago and took a class from Ralph Shenefelt.

When the city of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer Department (MMSD) asked for a bid for CPR and First Aid training. Marge submitted a bid using the MFA program. However, a competitor told the Department that "you can't do CPR and First Aid" in 8 hours - even threatening to "turn Marge in."

Marge didn't get the contract that year - but next year the Department came back and asked her to train their people. The Department has been using the MFA program ever since.

Acceptance of a new (and better) way of teaching CPR and First Aid didn't come easily. Representatives of the Wisconsin State Department of Transportation were looking for an alternative to the Red Cross training program which they felt had become too laden with unnecessary requirements.

Marge did a demonstration class — the safety trainers were sold on the program but were reluctant to adopt it until after 8 pilot classes were taught throughout the state. The success of these classes confirmed that it was the right choice and Medic First Aid has been the official CPR and First Aid training program of the DOT ever since.

Marge started her own training business providing training to businesses and govermental organizations throughout the state in 1992. She estimates she's trained "hundreds of students" and says the greatest reward comes when "a student takes me aside after class and tells me that 'this is the first time that first aid training makes sense' and they will not be afraid to use their skills if needed." Although this has happened a number of times, Marge says it still fills her with awe when she hears it.

Marge teaches MFA because "it is the most accurate and comprehensive program that answers the need for both business and industries for compliance to government regulations. The methodology is what sets this program apart from others. Using adult learning principles that enable the adult students to learn and use the skills when they are needed with a great degree of comfort is what makes the MFA program so successful."