Intermediate First Aid

Yes. WorkSafe BC recognize Intermediate First Aid as equivalent to the former Level 2 certification. The Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level A or C certifications are also recognized as equivalent to WorkSafeBC's Intermediate First Aid.

Certificates recognized by WorkSafe BC as equivalent to OFA level 2

The Canadian Red Cross, a WorkSafeBC trusted course provider, has integrated the CSA guidelines into its training program, and the CSA certification are clearly listed on Red Cross certificates.

The new CSA levels are:

• Basic First Aid (formerly OFA Level 1)
• Intermediate First Aid (formerly OFA Level 2)
• Advanced First Aid (formerly OFA Level 3)

 

 

Intermediate First Aid is a comprehensive first aid training course in Canada that provides essential skills and knowledge to manage a wide range of injuries and medical emergencies. It's often required for individuals working in specific industries, especially those with higher risks, and is designed to equip participants to assess and stabilize patients until advanced medical help arrives.

Here's a breakdown of what "Intermediate First Aid" typically entails, particularly in Canada:

Key Characteristics and Purpose:

• Workplace Focus: Intermediate First Aid, often referred to as Occupational First Aid (OFA) Intermediate (formerly OFA Level 2) in British Columbia, is geared towards meeting workplace safety requirements.
• Comprehensive Skills: It covers a broader range of first aid interventions than basic first aid, preparing individuals to handle more complex scenarios.
• Patient Assessment and Stabilization: A significant focus is placed on assessing an injured or ill person and providing care to stabilize them until paramedics or advanced medical personnel take over.
• Compliance with Standards: These courses align with national standards, such as the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z1210-17 for Workplace First Aid Training, ensuring consistency and quality across the country.

Common Course Content:

While specific content might vary slightly between providers (like the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, or provincial occupational safety bodies), Intermediate First Aid generally includes:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use: Often includes CPR Level C, covering adults, children, and infants.
• Airway Management: Techniques for clearing obstructed airways and managing breathing emergencies.
• Circulatory Emergencies: Managing bleeding (including the use of tourniquets), shock, and other cardiovascular issues.
• Patient Assessment: Systematic approaches to evaluate a patient's condition.
• Wound Care: Treating various types of wounds, including minor and more severe injuries.
• Musculoskeletal Injuries: Splinting and managing fractures, sprains, and dislocations.
• Sudden Medical Emergencies: Recognizing and responding to conditions like seizures, diabetic emergencies, and strokes.
• Environmental Emergencies: Addressing issues like heatstroke, hypothermia, and frostbite.
• Poisons/Opioid Overdose: Awareness and initial management of poisoning and opioid overdoses.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Understanding the duties of a first aid attendant, record-keeping, and activating emergency medical services (EMS).
• Scene Management and Safety: Ensuring the safety of the first aid provider and the patient.

Certification and Prerequisites:

• Duration: Intermediate First Aid courses typically run for 14-16 hours. Safe + Sound First Aid offers blended learning options with an online theory component and an in-person practical session.
• Certification Validity: Red Cross certificates are valid for three years.
• Recertification: To recertify, you must retake the full course or a dedicated recertification course before your current certificate expires.
• Prerequisites: Generally, there are no prior first aid prerequisites; however, participants must be physically able to perform the required first aid tasks and pass both written and practical exams.

It's always recommended to check with your employer or the specific training provider. Red Cross Standard First Aid certification is nationally recognized and transferable between provinces. The certification is recognized in most workplaces in Canada. We recommend that you check with your employer or school bfore registering for a class to ensure the Intermediate First Aid course you choose meets your particular needs and any provincial or industry-specific requirements.

While there isn't a strict official minimum age for the Intermediate First Aid course, most training providers recommend a minimum age of 12 or a mature 11-year-old. It's important to note a few things:

Parent/Caregiver Presence: For participants under 13 or 14, we recommend a parent or caregiver enroll in the course with them or have the child register with a friend or sibling.
Course Content: Intermediate First Aid covers adult topics like childbirth, drug overdoses, and mental health, which some younger participants might find challenging.
Workplace Requirements: If the first aid training is for workplace purposes, there are often age requirements. For instance, in BC, you need to be at least 16 to be a first aid attendant at a workplace.

Safe + Sound also offers specific youth programs like Babysitting (age 11+) and Home Alone (age 10+), which focus on age-appropriate first aid and safety skills.

Yes. Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level A or C certifications are compliant with CSA Standard Z1210-17 and are recognized by WorkSafe BC as equivalent to Intermediate First Aid:

Emergency First Aid is an 8-hour basic course that teaches participants how to respond to life-threatening injuries and conditions. Standard First Aid is a 16-hour course that includes all topics in Emergency First Aid and additionally:

• Head, neck and spinal injuries
• Bone, muscle and joint injuries
• Sudden medical emergencies
• Environmental illness
• Poisons

Yes. Canadian Red Cross Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid includes CPR and AED training.

Our public Intermediate First Aid courses include CPR/AED Level C. If you need a certificate that says "Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Intermediate First Aid Level "A", please let us know when you register.

CPR level C includes adult, child & infant skills.

CPR level A includes adult skills only.

If you're not sure which level of CPR is right for you, please call 604-945-7277 to discuss your situation, and we'll help you choose the appropriate level.

Yes. Red Cross Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid recognized by Adult Care Licensing in BC.

Red Cross Standard First Aid and Standard First Aid Blended programs are both recognized and accepted by the Lifesaving Society (LSS) as a prerequisite for the National Lifeguarding Program. According to LSS: "Standard First Aid courses are recognized by Lifesaving Society as long as it is from one of the 5 approved agencies, being Lifesaving Society, St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Heart & Stroke Fdn or Canadian Ski Patrol."

Yes. Standard First Aid Blended certification is recognized by WorkSafeBC as equivalent to Intermediate First Aid. You can find a list of WorkSafeBC equivalency certifications here.

Yes. Red Cross Standard First Aid is a nationally recognized program and is transferable between provinces. Red Cross Standard First Aid certification is recognized nationally for workplace requirements.

Yes. Red Cross Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid Blended meets all the requirements specified in Schedule C (First Aid) of the BC Child Care Licensing Regulation.

If you are a child care worker, you also have the option of taking the one-day Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR/AED (level B) program. Click here for course dates.

Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid certificates are considered to be equivalent. The course delivery will vary slightly.

If your Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid certification has expired, you will need to re-register for a full Standard First Aid course.

Within 48 hours of registering for your course you should receive a confirmation email from the Canadian Red Cross with your login information. Please check your spam/junk folder if you can’t find the email in your inbox. If you did not receive the email or if you have any questions about how to access the online training, please call: 1-877-356-3226 to speak with a representative from the Red Cross. Please email info@learnfirstaid.ca if you have any questions.

No, we have access to the Red Cross system and can see when you have completed the online course. Please complete the online course at least 24 hours before your in-person classroom session.

To be eligible to attend the Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid blended practical skills session, you must have completed your online component. When you register for your course we recommend you start your online course as soon as possible. If you do not complete your online component before the date of your classroom session you will be denied access to the class. If you have any trouble accessing or completing your online course, please contact us immediately.

With a blended delivery format, Intermediate First Aid/Standard First Aid course participants must complete the Red Cross online theory component at least 24 hours before the in-person practical skills session.