Surrey non-profit offering free first aid education
A Surrey-based non-profit is helping residents across the Lower Mainland learn how to save lives — completely free of charge.
The Hands for Life Foundation, founded by certified first aid instructors Gaganpreet Heer and Sukhman Dhillon, provides free CPR and first aid lessons to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Launched in September 2024, the foundation has already reached hundreds through creative community programs such as exercise and CPR classes for seniors, family-friendly workshops, and multilingual first aid training sessions.
“We focus on the ‘Check, Call, Care’ approach and guide participants through essential CPR techniques step-by-step,” Heer and Dhillon explained.
The duo, who met as university students at UBC, say their mission began after witnessing several emergencies where bystanders didn’t know how to respond.
“We saw a real gap — people wanted to help, but didn’t know how,” they said. “We wanted to make life-saving knowledge available to everyone, regardless of age, language, or financial situation.”
Every class is designed to be comfortable, engaging, and confidence-building, ensuring participants leave feeling ready to act if an emergency arises.
Residents interested in joining upcoming sessions can follow @handsforlifefoundation on Instagram for updates on classes and community events.
Your voice. Your city. Your news. Stay connected with Surrey Speak.
