Who are we?
Who are we?
Over the past 10 years, T8 First Response instructors have trained over 700 individuals from mums, dads and helpers to professionals from the aviation, education, medical, event, sporting and business sectors. We have also provided primary and secondary care services to DB Pirates, Valley RFC, Lantau Boat Club, iGym, sporting tours, sports festivals, Team Fear and more.
Our primary instructor, Steve Tait (ex British Forces) is an Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver and Emergency Planner. On occasion large courses are supplemented with the support of qualified intensive care and trauma nurses and paramedics who add their own experience to what is an educational, fund and challenging course.
Courses can be customised as required, though they do follow the key requirements and skills as set out by EFR.
All course participants receive a globally recognised qualification.
Over the past 10 years, T8 First Response instructors have trained over 700 individuals from mums, dads and helpers to professionals from the aviation, education, medical, event, sporting and business sectors. We have also provided primary and secondary care services to DB Pirates, Valley RFC, Lantau Boat Club, iGym, sporting tours, sports festivals, Team Fear and more.
Our primary instructor, Steve Tait (ex British Forces) is an Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver and Emergency Planner. On occasion large courses are supplemented with the support of qualified intensive care and trauma nurses and paramedics who add their own experience to what is an educational, fund and challenging course.
Courses can be customised as required, though they do follow the key requirements and skills as set out by EFR.
All course participants receive a globally recognised qualification.
Steve Tait - Instructor Head
Ben Chiu
Nationality: British
Years Instructing: 11 Years
Language: English
Numbers of Students: More than 1000
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Steve Tait is the T8 First Response Instructor Trainer and teaches both courses and oversees the T8FR instructors and course offering. Steve initial stepped into the world of first response during his early career in the UK military and on leaving further developed his skills in the UK. Since qualifying with EFR he has instructed over 700 individuals in Hong Kong, Macau and across the region including medical professionals, teachers, aviators, sports coaches, sailors, corporate professionals, adventure runners and a myriad of others.
Nationality: Australian / Hong Kong
Years Instructing: 3 Years
Language: English, Cantonese
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Ben is an Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority (AHPRA) registered paramedic with a Postgraduate Certificate Advanced in critical care and community care, a Bachelor of Paramedic Practice and BSc Sports Science Graduate. He has over 4 years emergency care experience both in Australia and New Zealand. He is passionate about education and has been involved in the teaching and mentoring of new paramedics. He is now taking some time away from frontline ambulance work to focus his attention on medical school aspirations. Outside of his medical background Ben is also heavily involved in sports coaching and outdoor activities.
Irene Thong
Megan Du Plessis
Nationality: Malaysian Chinese
Language: English, Cantonese
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Irene is a Registered Nurse, trained in UK, and practised in UK (1993), Malaysia (1993-1995) and in HK (1995 and present). She gained her Bachelor of Nursing (1998) and Master in Nursing (2006) through Monash University Australia. She has worked in both private and government hospitals in Hong Kong. Irene is very passionate about her job and love being in the frontline. She has taught pre-registration nursing at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2002) and HK Sanatorium and Hospital (2014). She is also an evacuation nurse for International SOS of HK and an Instructor for MedAire Inflight Illnesses and Injuries (HK Based) since 2016. She also holds a current AHA BLS license and has been teaching CPR and First Aids to Business Aviation Crews since 2016.
Nationality: South African
Language: English
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Megan has been teaching kiteboarding since 2012 and has recently qualified to train new kiteboarding instructors, where part of the instructor's course is an EFR course. Until completing our training, Megan did not feel confident to help in an emergency. Becoming an EFR instructor not only gives her the confidence to help, but also the ability to deliver a more complete instructor's course and equip her students with the same confidence.
Andy Liu
Howard Kwok
Nationality: Hong Kong
Language: English, Cantonese
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Andy has been working as a registered nurse in Hong Kong since 2011. He has experience in critical care for 10 years. During COVID-19, he worked in COVID-related facilities and was a nursing officer in a holding centre for COVID patients. To be an instructor is something that Andy is passionate about where he can share his experience and knowledge with his students and helping himself explore deeper through teaching.
Nationality: Hong Kong
Language: English, Cantonese
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Apart from First Aid teaching, Howard has been coaching Field Hockey for many years. He enjoys teaching valuable skills such as life-preservation, and hopes to raise awareness of First Aid around Hong Kong. Healthcare-wise, he is also working towards a physiotherapy degree in Hong Kong. He is fluent in English and Cantonese.
Kenneth Poon
Nationality: Hong Kong
Language: English, Cantonese
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Kenneth was a Senior Ambulanceman with Hong Kong Fire Services Department for 12 years and a Senior Ambulance Officer and a First Aid Lecturer with Hong Kong St John Ambulance for over 23 years. First aid and paramedic fields are his interests where he can continue to be part of the front line helping others in many ways. He enjoys being a trainer and hopes as an instructor he can continue to share his knowledge and helping people.
Sheeba Thampi
Nationality: Indian
Language: English
EFR/ Medical Qualification:
Sheeba is a Registered Nurse and have more than 20 years of experience. She has a nursing degree and had completed her MBA in Hospital Administration. Sheeba is registered with Hong Kong Nursing Council as a practicing nurse and have worked in reputable hospitals in Hong Kong - Hong Kong Adventist Hospital and Matilda International Hospital. She has worked in the Outpatient and Emergency unit and the Health Assessment unit. She is also a registered midwife.
Instructor Opportunity
Our Emergency First Response programs are built on the protocols set forth by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). ILCOR is an international standards group that represents most of the world’s major resuscitation organizations. Our programs follow the same exact patient care guidelines used by medical professionals but translated for the everyday rescuer to understand.
The instructor course covers specific goals and performance requirements for the Primary Care, Secondary Care, Care for Children and CPR & AED courses, along with instruction on how to structure learning, the requirements of performance-based training, and your role as the instructor in the learning environment. You also learn how to motivate students, evaluate student knowledge, present course content effectively, become proficient in developing students’ hands-on skills practice sessions, and are taught how to present an effective scenario-based learning experience. You’ll also receive information helpful in marketing your EFR business.
Supplement your income. Join us.