Tag Archives: first aid

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

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

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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?

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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?

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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

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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

View of person from behind with brain inflamation

Having a stroke more than doubles your risk of developing dementia

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A new report from the Heart & Stroke Foundation shows that having a stroke more than doubles your risk of developing dementia – all the more reason to adopt a healthy lifestyle now and get stroke victims to hospital as soon as possible.

If you suspect someone is having a stroke call EMS/911 immediately and request an ambulance. The person needs medical attention as fast as possible. Do not drive them to the hospital yourself.

If the person is having a stroke that’s caused by a blood clot they can be given clot busting medication that can stop the stroke by breaking up the blood clot. The medication must be given as soon as possible and within 4½ hours after stroke symptoms start. Receiving this medication in time can reduce the severity of a stroke and reverse some of the effects, helping the person recover more quickly.

Stroke and Dementia by the numbers:

  • 1.9 million brain cells die every minute after a stroke.
  • 405,000 Canadians are living with the effect of stroke.
  • 1 in 3 Canadians who will develop stroke, dementia, or both.
  • 1/3 of dementia risk can be attributed to stroke.
  • 9 in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for stroke and heart disease.

Signs of stroke include F.A.S.T.

FACE – Is it drooping?
ARMS – Can you raise both?
SPEECH – Is it slurred or jumbled?
TIME – to call 9-1-1 right away

Take a Red Cross first aid & CPR course and learn how to care for a person suffering from a stroke or heart attack. Check out our course list here.

The man with the blanket

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In this last month I’ve given first aid three times – to a friend with a head injury that required seven stitches, to a woman who fell off the treadmill and hit her head at my gym and a dog who was hit by a car near Coquitlam Town Centre park. In all three situations other people rushed in to help and it was a good reminder about how important teamwork is in an emergency situation. If you’re involved in an emergency situation, look around you. Is there anyone that can help? Don’t be shy about asking. Most people want to help but often they’re not sure what to do.It’s great if you have first aid training but even if you don’t, here are some things you can do:

  • Call 911 and ask for an ambulance. Don’t hang up until they tell you to.
  • Get someone to meet the first responders and guide them to the injured person.
  • Comfort and reassure the injured person – treat them as you’d like someone to treat you.
  • Find a first aid kit and bring it to the scene.
  • If the person is cold and shivery, cover them with a blanket or jacket.
  • Make them as comfortable as you can – preferably without moving them.

Of the three situations I was involved in the injured dog was the most traumatic. The dog, a beautiful husky had run onto the road and was hit by a car and rolled underneath it. It was in terrible pain and we did what we could to comfort it while calling for help. The local animal shelters were unable to pick up the dog so eventually the owner had to transport it in his car. While we were struggling to slide the thrashing, squealing dog onto a mat in order to lift it into the car, a man who had witnessed the accident came over and gave the dog’s owner a beautiful soft blanket to cover the dog, wished him well and walked away.

It is very touching to witness the kindness of strangers. This man didn’t want or expect any thanks he just saw a need and did something to help. Even though it’s highly unlikely he will see my post, I just wanted to say “Thank you” to him.

Gill McCulloch