Stay Safe! Training, also referred to as Online Stay Safe! Training or Home Alone Training has become very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Red Cross developed the virtual home alone safety course as a response to concerns from parents about children attending in-person group classes.
The course offers basic first aid and safety skills for youth aged 9-13 years. Participants learn about being safe when they are without the direct supervision of a parent or guardian or trusted adult. Whether in their community or on their own, participants will be given better tools to Stay Safe! in a variety of different situations.
Frequently asked questions about Canadian Red Cross Stay Safe! Virtual Training
Age
Q: How old do you have to be to take a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: Participants must be 9 years of age or older (or must have completed Grade 3). The course is designed for children aged 9-13 years.
Q: Are there any other online safety courses children age 9 and up can take?
A: Children aged 9-13 can take our Home Alone Safety for Kids online course.
Course fees
Q: How much does a Canadian Red Cross Stay Safe! Virtual course cost?
A: You can find course information and current pricing here
Course length and timing
Q: How long is a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: A Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course is 5 hours long including breaks.
Qualifications and certification
Q: What are the qualifications of a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course instructor?
A: Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course instructors are certified Red Cross Youth Leaders.
Q: Will my child get a certificate when they’ve taken their Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: Yes. Children receive a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course participation certification by email, on completion of the class.
Q: When my child has taken a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course, will they be qualified to babysit?
A: Your child will gain useful skills and safety knowledge on the Stay Safe! course. After the class, they will be more prepared and confident to stay home alone. Children don’t need a qualification to babysit. However, before they start babysitting, we recommend they take the Canadian Red Cross Babysitting course. Whether or not a child is ready to take on the responsibility of babysitting is left to the discretion of the child’s parent or guardian.
Group Size
Q: How many participants are there in a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! class?
A: The Canadian Red Cross allows a maximum of 15 children in a Virtual Stay Safe! class.
Course Topics
Q: What topics are included in a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: During a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course children learn:
- Importance of responsibility and respect while being accountable for yourself
- Importance of setting and following rules around safety when staying on your own
- How to stay safe at home and within the community
- How to prepare, recognize and respond to unexpected situations, (i.e. inclement weather, strangers, unanticipated visits)
First Aid Content:
- Check, Call, Care (includes phoning EMS/911),
- Recovery position
- Conscious choking (adult/child/alone)
- Feeling unwell,
- Asthma (includes use of inhaler and spacer)
- Anaphylaxis (includes use of EpiPen), poisoning, insect stings
- Wound care (i.e. minor cuts and scrapes, splinters, nosebleeds, bumps and bruises, life-threatening bleeding, burns)
Private Group
Q: Can I book a private Canadian Red Cross Stay Safe! Virtual course for my group?
A: Yes. If you have 8-15 children aged 9-13 years, you can book a private Stay Safe! class for your group.
Course Materials
Q: What materials will I need to provide for my child for use during a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! class?
A: When you register your child for the class, you will receive an email confirmation with course details including what your child needs to have with them during the training. Your child will also receive a Candian Red Cross Stay Safe! book in the mail. Here is a list of some of the items you may be asked to provide:
- Doll or stuffed animal, to practice baby care – holding, carrying, burping, feeding, comforting
- Triangular bandage or clean tea towel, to practice bandaging life-threatening external bleeding
- Pair of disposable gloves or any gloves available in the home, to practice safe glove removal
- Thick marker pen or something that looks similar, to practice using an EpiPen
- Pen and paper for note-taking
- Water bottle
There is no need to buy any of the above items. Children are encouraged to improvise with things they can find around the home.
Q: Will my child get a Canadian Red Cross Stay Safe! book with their course?
A: Yes. Red Cross Stay Safe! course students receive a copy of the Stay Safe! book in the mail. If they register at least a week before the class, they should get their book before their class. If they register later, they will receive their book along with their certificate after the class.
Technical Info
Q: Do participants have to set up their own Zoom account to take a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: Participants are not required to have their own Zoom account to participate in a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course. We will email a link to each participant before the class. Participants do need to have access to a computer with a webcam and microphone. Participants must be visible on screen for the duration of the class except during breaks.
Legal Questions
Q: What is the legal age for leaving children unsupervised in Canada?
A: This is a difficult question as the guidelines vary in different provinces. For example, in British Columbia, there is no legislated minimum age for leaving a child alone for a short period. However, according to a B.C. Supreme Court decision, children under the age of 10 should not be left unsupervised at home.
This is a complicated issue and the guidelines are unclear. Canadian social services organizations advise that children under 12 years should not be left at home alone. Please refer to this article from the Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal: Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised Across Canada.
Q: What is the legal age to babysit in Canada?
A: There is no age specified by law for babysitting in Canada. It is a matter of the parent determining if a child is responsible enough to provide a safe environment for the younger children in their care. Canadian social services organizations advise that children under 12 years should not be left at home alone.
Course Registration
Q: How can I register my child in a Canadian Red Cross Virtual Stay Safe! course?
A: You can find information, a schedule and online registration for Virtual Stay Safe! classes here.
We look forward to meeting your child and their friends soon!