All public secondary schools in British Columbia are now required to provide CPR and AED training to Grade 10 students before December 31, 2025. Additionally, secondary schools must now have AEDs and naloxone kits on site. This new mandate, part of the revised Physical and Health Education (PHE 10) curriculum, is a significant step toward improving emergency preparedness in school communities. Similar requirements are in the pipeline for middle and elementary schools; however, they have until September 8, 2026, to comply.
FAQs about first aid training, AEDs and naloxone – what BC schools must know
Q: What’s required under the new policy?
A: The curriculum update makes it mandatory for all Grade 10 students to receive basic CPR and AED training as part of their PHE 10 classes. Schools must also have an AED and naloxone kits onsite.
Q: Who is responsible for the training?
A: Schools can choose to have their staff, usually physical education teachers, deliver the training during regularly scheduled gym periods. They also have the option of bringing in external instructors from outside agencies if they prefer.
Q: How can schools find an agency in their area to deliver the training?
A: Schools can find a Red Cross First Aid Training partner via a Google search. Just typ, “Canadian Red Cross Training Partner Near Me”
Q: Are students required to earn a certification card through a recognized first aid training provider?
A: No – certification is not required. The goal of the training is to ensure students understand and can perform basic lifesaving skills, rather than meeting the formal requirements of a certified course.
Q: Is Naloxone training part of the new curriculum requirements?
A: Schools must have naloxone kits onsite; however, opioid poisoning/naloxone training is not part of the Grade 10 PHE curriculum.
Q: Are schools now required to have an AED onsite?
A: Yes. BC has also introduced a separate health emergency response policy requiring all public schools to have AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) onsite.
Q: When are schools required to have the training and equipment in place?
A: Secondary schools must be equipped by December 31, 2025. Elementary and middle schools must be compliant by September 8, 2026.
Q: Who is responsible for paying for the training and equipment?
A: As the government has provided no new funding, schools are responsible for the cost of the training and equipment.
Q: Where can I get a naloxone kit?
A: B.C. has a Take Home Naloxone program in place to reduce the harm and deaths associated with opioid overdoses. The program provides training in overdose prevention, recognition, and first aid response. Read more about this program here.
Q: What is the rationale behind the new policies?
A: You can find information about the rationale behind the new policies in this article – Response to Unexpected Health Emergencies.
Q: How can Safe + Sound First Aid Training help?
A: We can work with your school’s schedule and budget to provide the necessary CPR training and an AED if required. We can also arrange for naloxone training via our local community partner, NaloxHome.
Partner with Safe+ Sound to meet the new requirements and make your school community safer by teaching students to save lives.
Contact us via info@learnfirstaid.ca or call 604-945-7277.