Tag Archives: first aid

workers providing first aid to injured co-worker

Why get staff trained in first aid?

Posted on by

There are more advantages than you might think.

Most conscientious employers have “Get staff trained in first aid” somewhere on their to-do list. How high up this item appears on the list may depend on their previous experience of accidents and injuries in the workplace or knowledge of the advantages of first aid training.

Safety Training Makes Sense

In workplaces, where employees have suffered severe injuries or death, employers have learned from bitter experience that safety should always be the number one priority. Think about it, if your staff members are trained to check for dangers and deal with hazards, there will be fewer accidents and injuries at your workplace and less downtime. Also, you’ll likely see a boost in morale as workers are happier and more productive if they feel like employers care about their safety.

What about the bottom line?

As well as the human suffering that often results from serious accidents, there will also be an impact on the bottom line. Employers often make decisions based on savings in time and money. If you’re asking yourself the question, “Will getting my staff trained in first aid save me time and money?” the answer is yes!

Don’t learn the hard way

Employers don’t have to learn about the advantages of safety and first aid training the hard way, though. All they need to do is be smart about safety training and practices and make arrangements for their staff to get trained through a recognized course provider.

Online or Classroom Training?

All employees need safety training. Workers can complete some of this online, but for first aid, you need to send your people to a classroom-based course. With first aid and CPR training, there is no substitute for getting hands-on experience working with a CPR mannequin, AED and other first aid equipment and supplies. In a classroom setting, participants get expert instruction and direct feedback from a certified instructor.

Use the Services of a recognized Training Provider

The Canadian Red Cross has been offering first aid and CPR training to Canadians for over 50 years and is one of the leading providers of first aid and CPR programs in Canada. Safe + Sound First Aid Training is proud to have been a Canadian Red Cross Training Partner since 1999. The Red Cross courses and certifications we offer are nationally recognized and accepted in BC by Child Care Licensing, Adult Care Licensing and WorkSafeBC.

Eight reasons to get your staff trained in first aid & CPR

  1. It saves lives!
  2. It will save you money. Less downtime = increased productivity.
  3. Your workers will be safer in and outside of the workplace.
  4. Employees will be able to act quickly, confidently and effectively in emergencies.
  5. Your worker safety and insurance board will be pleased with you.
  6. It’s a great team-building exercise.
  7. You’ll see an increase in morale; people like to work for employers who care about their safety.
  8. You’ll have one less thing on your “to-do” list, and maybe you’ll sleep better at night.

Group First Aid Training is Easy to Organize

Providing first aid and CPR training for employees is a smart, low-cost investment that helps ensure workplace health and safety. If you’re thinking about organizing first aid and CPR training in your workplace, please contact us, or complete our Group Training Form and we’ll be happy to help.

Gill McCulloch

Safe + Sound First Aid Training

learnfirstaid.ca

604-945-7277

 

Cellular-connected Drones to Deliver Life-saving Emergency Defibrillators

Posted on by

Cellular-connected drones will soon be delivering life saving emergency defibrillators (AED’s) to people suffering cardiac arrest.  When medical emergencies occur in traffic clogged cities and remote rural locations, first responders often face challenges in getting to the scene in time.

Trials in Renfrew Ontario on Sept. 21-22, 2019 saw drones arriving at least seven minutes before the paramedic vehicles during each test run. The drone flew over cellular to remote take-off points selected by GPS and landed successfully to deliver an AED to the onsite researchers. They then utilized the device to deliver required shocks to a medical mannequin. Translated to an actual cardiac arrest, the extra time provided by the drones would be crucial.

To improve the mission-critical communications associated with these deliveries, the drones share images and video with operators and employ artificial intelligence to manage key functions, such as collision avoidance, all enabled by the speed, bandwidth and reliability of the LTE cellular network. The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service will use the trial results to plan deployment strategies that reduce time to treatment for people suffering cardiac arrest, and for those who need urgent medications, in private, residential or rural locations.

Getting emergency treatment rapidly is the difference between life and death. This exciting new technology is destined to save many lives!

Contact Safe + Sound First Aid Training

Canada Soccer chooses Red Cross for first aid services!

Posted on by

The Canadian Red Cross has become the Official Supplier to Canada Soccer for first aid services. These services include First Aid Training, First Aid Kits and Automated External Defibrillators.

Canada Soccer is the official governing body for soccer in Canada. In partnership with its members, Canada Soccer promotes the growth and development of soccer in Canada, from grassroots to high performance. Soccer is the largest participatory sport in Canada and is considered the fastest-growing sport in the country. There are nearly 1,000,000 registered Canada Soccer active participants in Canada within 1,200 clubs. These clubs operate in 13 provincial/territorial member associations.

At Safe + Sound First Aid Training, we look forward to seeing lots more soccer players and coaches attend our Red Cross First Aid & CPR classes in Coquitlam and Burnaby! If you are a soccer player, coach or parent helper and you’d like to take a first aid course, please follow this link to check our course listings

For more details on Canada Soccer, visit the official website at www.canadasoccer.com

Group First Aid Training at Your School – FAQ’s

Posted on by

Interested in private group First Aid & CPR training at your School? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get from Principals and teachers.

FAQ’s about Group First Aid Training at School.

Q: Which first aid/CPR class do teachers usually take?

A: Teachers usually take the one day Red Cross Emergency First Aid & CPR program. This includes CPR level C skills for all age groups (adult, child and infant). If time and budget allows, a more comprehensive option is the two day Standard First Aid & CPR program. Both courses are recognized by WorkSafeBC as equivalent to Occupational First Aid Level One.

 

Q: What is the course duration?

A: Red Cross Emergency First Aid is a one day course – 8 hours including breaks.

Red Cross Standard First Aid is a two day course – 16 hours including breaks.

 

Q: What is the course start time?

A: Most groups choose a start time of 8:30 or 9:00am. We are flexible, so let us know what works for your group. There are usually at least three refreshment breaks during the day including a 30 minute lunch break.

 

Q: What is the maximum number of participants per class?

A: On a Red Cross Emergency or Standard First Aid class, the instructor to participant ratio is 1:18 (one instructor per 18 participants). Special arrangements can be made for groups of 18+ people.

 

Scheduling a First Aid class at your school

Q: How far ahead do I need to book the class?

A: Safe + Sound takes course bookings up to 6 months ahead. The further ahead you book, the more chance that your preferred course date is available. Pro-D days are very popular for first aid/ CPR classes.

 

Q: Which days of the week are available for first aid classes?

A: The class can take place on a regular school day, Pro-D day, during the school holidays or on a Saturday. Let us know which dates work best for you and we will check our instructor availability.

 

Pricing and Payment

Q: What is the cost of onsite first aid training?

A: This depends on the number of course participants, the course you choose and your location. Please contact us for current pricing and ask us to provide a quote for your school or group.

 

Q: How can participants make their payments for the first aid course?

A: Option 1: Participants can register themselves online via a private link on Safe + Sound’s website.

Option 2: Safe + Sound can invoice the school for the full amount.

 

Q: What methods of payment do you accept?

A: We accept EFT, Visa, MasterCard and business cheques. We do not accept personal cheques.

 

Q: What does the first aid course fee include?

A: The course fee includes a Red Cross certificate and e-book.

 

Room and Equipment Requirements

Q: What are the training room requirements for a first aid class?

A: The room must have a minimum of 500 sq. ft. of clear floor space as well as a seating area, chairs for participants, a few tables and washrooms nearby.

 

Q: What are the equipment requirements for a first aid class?

A: Our instructor will bring everything they need to teach the course. If you are able to provide a whiteboard or blackboard, flip chart, projector or other AV aids that is very helpful and much appreciated, but not required.

 

Q: Can a first aid course be held in a regular school classroom?

A: It depends on the size of the classroom and the number of participants. There are lots of physical activities included in a Red Cross first aid class, so the more floor space, the better. A gym, multi-purpose room or library space works best unless the group is very small.

 

Q: We have a small group of people, can we still book a private class?

A: You can still book a private class, however if you have a small group (less than 12 people) you may prefer to register them on one of our public classes in Coquitlam or Burnaby:

View public first aid course schedules in Coquitlam and Burnaby:

Red Cross Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C

Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C

 

Q: Which school districts does Safe + Sound First Aid Training serve?

A: We run first aid classes in schools in the following BC school districts:

Coquitlam School District 43 – SD43

Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District 42 – SD42

Burnaby School District 41 – SD41

New Westminster School District 40 – SD40

Vancouver School District 39 – SD39

 

Group First Aid Training  – Booking a Class for your School

For further information or a quote for a first aid class at your school, please fill in our Onsite Training Form We will then provide a quote or contact you if we need more information.

Private group first aid training is easy to organize. Book a date with us and provide a group of people. We’ll take care of everything else!

A first aid instructor kneels near a student giving instructions during a first aid class.

First aid & CPR certification – time to update?

Posted on by

Do your staff members need to update their first aid & CPR certifications?

Are you responsible for staff safety training at your workplace?

Do you find it hard to keep track of who needs training and which staff members have to update their certificates?

What gets in the way of having your staff trained?

  • Time?
  • Budget restrictions?
  • No training room?
  • Confusion about which courses your team members need?
  • Lack of knowledge, about the differences between courses/providers?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need our services!

Safe + Sound is a Training Partner for the Canadian Red Cross First Aid Program. With 26+ years experience in the first aid training industry and over 50,000 satisfied clients, we are well qualified and equipped to get your staff trained and certified. If it’s time for your team to update their certifications, let’s chat!

Group training is easy to organize. All you need to do is book a date for your class at our location or yours and provide a group of people. We’ll do the rest.

We can come out to your location with all the necessary equipment and supplies and conduct the training for your group. If you don’t have a suitable training room or area onsite, we can teach the class at one of our classrooms in Coquitlam or Burnaby/Vancouver. Our centres have kitchen facilities, free parking and WIFI and are close to public transport.

Benefits of Group Training

  • Courses can be tailored to meet the needs of your group.
  • Our instructors can include industry-specific first aid scenarios on request.
  • Group first aid training is a great team building opportunity.

Request a quote for Group First Aid Training

If you’re thinking about booking a group first aid training session in the Tri-Cities or Metro Vancouver, please fill out our inquiry form. We’ll be happy to send you the information you need and provide a quote.

Safe + Sound has been conducting group first aid training for 20 years. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve received regarding group first aid training:

Private Group First Aid & CPR Training – FAQ’S

Training Room Requirements 

Q: What are the room / space requirements for private group first aid training?

A: To meet WorkSafeBC requirements, the training room must have a minimum of 46.5 sq. metres (500 sq. feet) of clear working space in addition to the seating area per class of 10-18 candidates. For classes with fewer than 10 candidates, the room must be equal to 4 sq. metres (44 sq. feet) per candidate. The instructor must have an unobstructed view of the candidates during the training and / or evaluation.

Q: What if we don’t have a suitable training room onsite?

A: You can book a private course for your team at one of our classrooms in Coquitlam or Burnaby/Vancouver.

Choosing the right first aid course/certification

Q: Which first aid course or certification do my staff members need?

A: If you’re not sure which first aid course or certification your staff members need to meet industry and work safety requirements, we can help.

Q: Which group first aid training classes does Safe + Sound Offer?

A: Safe + Sound offers the following group first aid training classes:

  • Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level A
  • Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C
  • Intermediate First Aid Aid
  • Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level A
  • Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR/AED Level B
  • CPR/AED level A
  • CPR/AED level C
  • Mental Health First Aid

Group Size – Private Group First Aid Training

Q: What is the minimum number of students for a group first aid class?

A: For Red Cross First Aid & CPR certification classes we will invoice for a minimum of 10 participants to cover costs. If you have a smaller group, you may prefer to register your people on one of our public classes.

Q: What is the maximum number of students for a group first aid class?

A: For Red Cross First Aid & CPR certification classes, the maximum number of participants is 18 per class. For Basic Life Support (BLS) the maximum is 12.

Q: What is the minimum number of students for a group Mental Health First Aid class?

A: First Mental Health First Aid classe,s we will invoice for a minimum of 18 participants. Additional participants will be charged on an individual rate.

Q: What is the maximum number of students in a Mental Health First Aid class?

A: The maximum number of participants in a Mental Health First Aid class is 25.

Q: How much does group first aid training cost?

A: To provide a quote, we will need the following information:

  • Your business location
  • The certification your staff members need. Ask if you’re unsure.
  • Number of people who need training

Q: What methods of payment do you accept for group first aid training?

A: We will send you an invoice with your booking confirmation.

Course days and dates

Q: Which days of the week are available for private group training?

A: We can run a class on any day of the week, and dates are subject to availability. Saturdays are the most popular day for first aid training. We recommend booking your class a few weeks before first aid certifications are due to expire. We take bookings up to 6 months ahead.

If your staff members need to update their first aid certifications, plan ahead and book the training now before their certificates expire.

Contact us today. We can help. It’s easier than you think!

workers providing first aid to injured co-worker

Legal Issues Around First Aid

Posted on by

Can I be sued for giving first aid?

Many people fear being sued for coming to the aid of someone with an injury. This same fear often prevents people from getting trained in first aid. You’ve probably heard the parable of the Good Samaritan. The clear message in this story is that assisting those in trouble is the right thing to do.

The law in every province in Canada encourages bystanders to give first aid. In BC, we have the Good Samaritan Act. It specifically protects, against liability, citizens and medical professionals who act in good faith to give emergency assistance to ill or injured persons at the scene of an emergency. Under these laws, a person providing first aid who acts reasonably and prudently under the conditions of an emergency cannot be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the victim.

There is no general legal duty to help someone in an emergency except for a person who is involved in a motor vehicle accident. That person must stop and give all possible assistance to the persons involved. A failure to do so could mean being charged under the criminal code.

First aiders must:

–          Get permission, if possible before giving care

–          Give only the care they were trained to provide

–          Continue giving care until another trained person takes over, they are too exhausted to continue, the scene becomes unsafe, or the person’s condition improves and care is no longer required.

Getting Permission to Help an Injured Person

–          For an unresponsive person, the law assumes you have permission

–          For a young child without a caregiver, provide care.

–          If a person refuses care call EMS/911 and stand by if it is safe to do so.

Duty to report Child Abuse or Neglect in Canada

Every adult in Canada has a legal duty to report child abuse or neglect, even if it is not confirmed. Information about how to report details can be found in your jurisdiction’s child protection act, but the duty to report is uniform in all acts. If you think a child is being harmed, then a report to child protection and /or the police needs to occur.

You never know when you are going to be called upon to assist in an emergency situation. It could be today.

Safe + Sound provides the following Red Cross courses:

– Standard First Aid & CPR/AED (OFA Level 1 equivalent)

– Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED (OFA Level 1 equivalent)

– Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR/AED Level B

– Babysitting (for 11-15 year olds)

and Online Safety Training

Check our online course library

If you’re not sure which first aid/CPR course to take, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Book a private class for your team or register for a course today.

Learn to save a life.

 

injured worker lying slumped against wall with person giving first aid.

Basic Life Support (BLS) – 2019 Update and FAQ’s

Posted on by

Red Cross recently launched the Basic Life Support Program. Development of this course was driven by industry audiences and the need for a clear distinction from public (or lay) CPR courses. Health care provider audiences require a professional, skills-driven resuscitation course that recognizes requisite knowledge.

BLS – Frequently asked questions

Q. What is Basic Life Support?
A. Basic Life Support (BLS) is the recognition of, and initial intervention or treatment given by pre-hospital or in-facility responders to, a patient suffering from cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest.

Q. Is BLS just a different name for CPR HCP (Health Care Provider), or are HCP and BLS completely different?
A. BLS is a new course that is vastly different from HCP, from the target audience to the curriculum and content. BLS is focused on high performance resuscitation and professional skills and does not provide prevention education and address other first aid components as was the case in our HCP curriculum.

Q. Why is Red Cross sunsetting HCP? 
A. BLS training supersedes CPR HCP training. The introduction of BLS means CPR HCP is no longer needed – audiences who previously requested the CPR HCP Course will either take CPR C or BLS training depending on the skills needed.

Q: Is Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) a nationally recognized program?
A: Yes, the BLS certification is recognized across Canada.

Q: Who is the BLS course designed for?
A: This course is designed for healthcare providers and trained first responders who provide care to patients in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings or by those that require BLS certification and CPR training to enter into a healthcare-related training program.

Q: What do students learn on a BLS course?
A: The primary goal of BLS is to give professional responders the fundamental skills needed to sustain life with CPR/Rescue Breathing and restore an effective rhythm with use of an AED. Follow this link and click View Course Details for more info and list of topics.

Q: Who is the Basic Life Support (BLS) Recertification course for?
A: The Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal course is a fast-paced course that allows the experienced BLS provider (those who are confident in their BLS skills through regular use in their work in the ED, CCU, ICU on code team, or paramedics and first responders) the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge through written and skills assessment in a concentrated program. Successful completion of this two hour 15 minute course (approximate time) allows students to renew their BLS course completion card.

Q: How long is a BLS certificate good for?
A: A Red Cross BLS certificate is good for 1 year.

Q. Why is BLS only a one-year certification?
A. One year is the industry standard for BLS due to the high skill competency required. Resuscitation skills deteriorate over time and professional responders working in a team environment must know all positions and the skills within those positions. In a cardiac arrest event, any team member may be assigned to any role and must be competent to fulfill their duties.

Q. How long is the BLS Course?

A. BLS on its own is four hours of instructional time, with one additional hour for each of Airway Management and Oxygen Therapy certifications. The focused course allows for a shorter time frame and more flexible scheduling options.

Q. Is there a BLS Recertification Course? If so, how long is it?
A. Yes, there is a BLS Recertification Course and it is two hours of instructional time. If the participant has Airway Management and/or Oxygen Therapy certification(s) as well, they may recertify those at the same time. Additional time is needed to complete the Airway Management and/or Oxygen Therapy certification(s).

Q. Is there a minimum age for BLS participants?
A. There is no minimum age requirement. Participants must be able to successfully demonstrate skill competency.

BLS Training for Private Groups in Metro Vancouver

Book a private group BLS class for your team at your location or ours or register your staff on one of our public BLS classes in Coquitlam.

Questions? Email info@learnfirstaid.ca or call 604-945-7277

How can employers reduce the impact of poor mental health in the workplace?

Posted on by

The link between stress, mental health and employee absence is well known; it remains a significant challenge for many Canadian employers.

Poor mental health in the workplace has a negative impact on both physical and mental well-being of employees. The early signs of poor mental health can be seen when employees begin to experience physical illnesses or conditions that are not directly related to their jobs like back pain, headaches, arthritis, and skin disorders.

Each year, absenteeism costs Canadian employers $16.5 Billion dollars in lost revenue. It makes sense for employers to look after the physical and mental health of their workers.

Smart employers are now offering Mental Health First Aid training in the workplace. Maintaining a happy, healthy workforce leads to higher productivity, less down time and absenteeism and this has a positive impact on the bottom line.

Mental Health First Aid – About the course

Physical first aid courses prepare people for medical emergencies such as choking, heart attack and broken bones. Mental health first aid training gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

A range of mental health issues will be covered, including mood, anxiety, trauma-related, psychotic and substance use disorders. The course will also teach first aid skills for dealing with drug overdose, suicidal behaviour, panic attacks, psychosis and acute stress reaction.

The goal is to enable participants to build the skills and confidence necessary to engage in effective conversations about mental health, help them recognize the most common mental health problems and illnesses, increase their comfort level with, and willingness to help others, and decrease the stigma and discrimination around mental health problems and illnesses.

PRIVATE group training for your team

Safe + Sound First Aid Training offers private group training as well as public courses. We can teach a course onsite at your location or at our Coquitlam classroom. For more information please call 604-945-7277 or follow this link

PUBLIC Mental Health First Aid course dates:

September 26&27 2018, Coquitlam  Register

November 7&8 2018, Coquitlam Register

Register online or call 604-945-7277

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague. One in five people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.

Everyone can benefit from taking Mental Health First Aid training.

 

Nitroglycerin or Aspirin – which is best for a heart attack victim?

Posted on by

When a person is experiencing a heart attack, should you give them Aspirin or Nitroglycerin?

If you suspect that a person is having a heat attack, the most important thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t do anything before calling 9-1-1.

Heart attacks are usually caused by atherosclerosis (the build up of plaque on the artery walls), and complicated by thrombosis (blood clots) in the heart vessels. Anti thrombotic treatment should happen as soon as possible after a heart attack. Aspirin (ASA) helps slow down the formation of clots.

It is recommended that a person experiencing a heart attack chew 160 to 325 mg of ASA – either two low-dose (81mg) tablets or one regular strength (325 mg) tablet.

Taking ASA is not advised during a stroke, because not all strokes are caused by blood clots. Most strokes are caused by clots, but some are caused by ruptured blood vessels. Taking ASA could potentially make these bleeding strokes more severe.

Nitroglycerin “Nitro” is a symptom relief medication and does not target the underlying cause of the heart attack. First Aiders should focus on helping the person take ASA over nitroglycerin, as long as there is no contraindication. Remember to ask “Are you allergic to aspirin?”

For more information on giving aspirin during a heart attack or stroke please follow this link: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/PreventionTreatmentofHeartAttack/Aspirin-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_321714_Article.jsp#.WQjdLdLyuUk

Onsite First Aid Training in Metro Vancouver

Posted on by

Do your staff need first aid training?

We do onsite first aid training in workplaces in Metro Vancouver.  We can teach a class in the convenience of your own venue, or you can book a private course at our Coquitlam location. Private group training is easy to very organize. Just book a date with us and provide a group of people and we’ll take care of everything else!

We will come out to your location in the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody) Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford or Langley.

The Venue

The training room should be clean and contain enough seating for the number of people attending as well as adequate clear floor space for the practical sessions. Please see guidelines below. There must be washrooms nearby.

Training room size

Red Cross minimum room size requirements: 1.4 m2 (15 sq. ft.) available for every 2 participants.

For Level 1 (Workplace Emergency First Aid) courses, WorkSafe BC requires a minimum of 500 sq ft of clear floor space in addition to the seating area.

First Aid Class Group Size

Red Cross First Aid/ CPR courses:

Maximum number of students per class = 18

Minimum number of students you will be invoiced for = 10

 

Mental Health First Aid courses:

Maximum number of students per class = 24

Minimum number of students you will be invoiced for = 10

Special arrangements can be made for smaller or larger groups.

Don’t have a suitable training room onsite?

No problem! We can teach your group at our Coquitlam location or you can register your staff members on one of our public courses. You can find our public course schedule at staging-wp123859.wpdns.ca

First Aid in Farsi?

Our public courses are usually conducted in English, however we have an Iranian instructor who can teach first aid and CPR classes in Farsi. We’d be happy to arrange a private course for your group conducted in Farsi.

Ready to book your private group course?

For more information, or to make arrangements for your onsite first aid training, please contact us. To help us to serve you better, please give us the following information if you can:

  • Which course do your staff members need to take?
  • Would you like us to teach the class at your workplace or our classroom in Coquitlam?
  • Which day of the week is most convenient for you?
  • Do you have any dates in mind for your training? Please give a two or three alternate dates and indicate your preference.
  • Would you prefer to be contacted by phone or email?

Contact us today to book a private first aid class for your group!
Call 604-945-7277 and speak to Gill, or email info@learnfirstaid.ca