This 20-plus-year EFR center shows that success can come from many different paths. 

Nestled on the banks of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva is EFR® Center SwissEmergency, owned by Myriam Reichel. Opened in 2003 EFR Instructor Trainer Sébastien Reichel, SwissEmergency has become an important part of the couple’s livelihood.  

Having initially worked as an independent EFR Instructor, Sébastien Reichel, who speaks several languages, found himself with a full client list just from the dive center they own. Setting his sights on developing his business, he created SwissEmergency to present a professional first-aid company to prospective clients associated with larger organizations. This opened the floodgates to varied business opportunities with large international companies as well as local security companies, daycare centers, schools, industrial companies, local authorities and transport companies. 

While he initially marketed using email, adverts and phone call campaigns, now, due to large contracts, repeat business and past clients’ word of mouth recommendations, Reichel has business sewn up. “In this profession, success comes down to a very simple equation,” he says. “Being professional and having a pleasant course where participants feel relaxed and have fun, plus certify them quickly and send them their diploma and the link to install their certification card online.” His focus is also on being prepared for each course, having the most current training equipment, customizing topics for a particular client’s needs and always being upbeat and energizing on the day of the course. Reichel adds relevant entertainment to learning in his EFR courses by including competitions with small first-aid prizes, which he says clients love. 

Though cheaper competitors exist in his marketplace, Reichel says EFR offers world-class materials and a robust structure for course delivery, understanding and skill retention, which clients prefer. Once a client begins with Reichel, they don’t leave him, he says. His most popular course is EFR Primary and Secondary Care with AED, and though some competitors offer “quick” two-hour courses, Reichel has learned that businesses often prefer serious, comprehensive, quality training.   

In 2025, Reichel plans to invest in more QCPR equipment, which allows gamifying the CPR experience for participants. Training more EFR Instructors is also on the agenda to grow his support team, and he also plans on training young first-aiders. With strong business acumen and growth strategies, Reichel and SwissEmergency are a standout example of how combining quality training, positive interaction and a genuine interest in customer needs leads to long term success. 

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