The Canadian Red Cross and its partners offer a comprehensive program for candidates wanting to become First Aid instructors. Their Instructor Development Program follows a clear pathway that enables you to advance through the course, ultimately reaching the level of instructor. Get ready to learn how to become a First Aid Instructor today!

Instructor Programs

Whether you want to be a CPR, First Aid, or instructor for professional responder programs, you are assured that your training will allow you to teach people around you to help others in their work or social environment.

First Aid is an important skill to have as it teaches members of our communities how to provide skills to help save a life. Your work as a First Aid Instructor is extremely beneficial to make our world a safer place.

5 Steps to First Aid Instruction Certification

Candidates wanting to become First Aid instructors must meet certain prerequisites and complete one step before advancing to the next one. Once you receive an instructor certification, it is only valid for three years. Before your certificate expires, you will need to complete an Instructor Recertification course.

Instructor Pathway

• Checking prerequisites and evaluating skills
• Learning the fundamentals of instruction
• Focusing on specific skills of the program
• Gaining teaching experience
• Issuing of instructor certification

Course Prerequisites: To become a first aid instructor, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• You must be 18 years old or more
• You must have a Standard First Aid Certificate with CPR/AED Level C certificate
  • This is a 16-hour training which must be completed through an approved training partner. This course may be completed in one of the following formats: Traditional All In-Class or Online Blended.
  • To earn your Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C certificate, you need to pass a multiple choice exam and successfully demonstrate the complete range of skills you have learned. This Canadian Red Cross Program prepares you with the following topics:

• The Red Cross
• Preparing to respond to emergencies
• Understanding the EMS system
• Check, Call, Care
• Dealing with airway, breathing, and circulation emergencies
• First aid care for respiratory and cardiac arrest
• Wound care
• Head and spine injuries
• Bone, muscle, and joint injuries
• Sudden medical emergencies
• Environmental emergencies
• Dealing with poisons
• And more!

• Complete a separate skills assessment
  • Students must show they are able to complete the skills they’ve learned in their SFA training course to ensure they feel confident enough to teach.

Instructor course and teaching experience: the instructor course is divided into four sections including both online and in-class training:

1. Fundamentals of Instruction Online – complete an 8-hour online training in your own time.
2. Classroom Component – 14.5 hours of in-class training focused on the application of fundamentals in First Aid & CPR.
3. First Aid & CPR Discipline-Specific Component – 14.5 hours of in-class training focused on the specific skills of the program.
4. Teaching Experience – There are two modules to the teaching experience component. The first module is online, taking between 30-45 minutes to complete. The classroom component of the course includes instruction from a Teaching Experience Supervisor and co-teaching alongside a certified instructor.

When a person’s heart stops beating, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the procedure that can help save their life. When the heart stops, it cannot continue pumping blood to the body’s organs. When your heart stops beating, you suffer from cardiac arrest and then you require CPR.

During cardiac arrest, the heart stops because of altered electrical signals. Some people believe that cardiac arrest and a heart attack are the same, but they are different heart problems. With a heart attack, the blood flow to the heart stops because of blocked arteries, requiring immediate medical attention. However, they are in danger of cardiac arrest, which means the heart may stop pumping blood, placing the person at immediate risk of death within a few minutes unless they receive CPR.

A person in cardiac arrest is usually unconscious, and they are either not breathing at all or are not breathing normally. Both indicate that CPR is required immediately but always performed after calling for emergency help first. But how does CPR restart the heart? We’ll discuss more in this blog post.

Since most incidences of cardiac arrest occur in the home or place of work, CPR training teaches you how to help someone when they cannot breathe. No matter how close a hospital is, without CPR, their chance of surviving is almost zero.

What Your Organs Need to Survive

Life is impossible without oxygen, and it is essential for all organs and cells. The lungs are the organs that draw oxygen from the air that we breathe and then disperse it to the body’s other organs via red blood cells. These same cells remove carbon dioxide from our bodies as we exhale.

When a person is not breathing normally or at all, the lack of oxygen will damage all the vital organs, causing them to cease functioning. A lack of oxygen to the brain can lead to brain damage after just 4 minutes, and death follows soon after. CPR is used to replenish the victim’s oxygen levels until help arrives.

People often put off First Aid training until they are faced with an emergency where they feel helpless. Others put it off until they must get the training for their school or work. Several reasons cause people to keep putting it off, saying that they don’t have the time, they don’t know where to go for their training, they don’t think they will ever face an emergency, or that they already have all the knowledge required.

Currently, First Aid Training is only mandatory for people in specific careers or school programs. These are typically people who work in healthcare, rescue services, schools, as sports trainers, etc. Also, depending on the workplace environment and the number of employees, the law requires a specific amount of people per shift who must be First Aid certified.

In workplaces with five or fewer workers per shift, at least one requires an Emergency First Aid First Aid certificate. In workplaces with six people or more on any shift, at least one worker requires a Standard First Aid certificate.

So is First Aid training mandatory? No, First Aid training is not mandatory for everyone, but it is mandatory for many professions.

Why First Aid is Important

There are several reasons why First Aid is important:

Undoubtedly, the most critical reason for First Aid training is to assist someone during an emergency or accident confidently, whether that is a relative, friend, colleague, or even a stranger.

Besides helping save a life, First Aid enables you to offer someone in pain emotional support and comfort as you assist or until emergency services arrive.

Emergencies happen on a daily basis which is why you need to be prepared. With your knowledge, you can assist an injured person as well as help prevent a situation from becoming worse.

First Aid training gives you the ability to help out in any situation, expanding your confidence to share your skills wherever they are needed. Finally, the training makes you more aware of how important it is to practice keeping yourself safe and healthy.

First aid and CPR are both procedures administered in emergencies to help save lives. The difference between first aid and CPR is that first aid covers a broad spectrum of life-saving skills, including CPR. On the other hand, CPR training primarily focuses on how to perform CPR, use an AED and more to resuscitate unconscious victims that have no pulse.

What Is the Difference Between First Aid Training And CPR?

Both CPR and first aid are essential procedures that can help save lives. You can take a CPR class without first aid, but a first aid course through the Canadian Red Cross always includes CPR.

First Aid Training

During first aid training, you will learn a wide variety of procedures needed to help someone who is feeling ill or has suffered trauma from an accident. These procedures include treating deep cuts, burns, stopping bleeding, choking, allergic reactions, how to put a splint on a fractured bone, etc. You are trained to offer assistance to victims by relieving their pain and preventing them from suffering further injuries until professional medical assistance arrives.

CPR Training

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, you are taught how to focus on someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is caused by sudden heart dysfunction. Any person suffering the condition will be unconscious and not able to breathe. CPR is also a form of first aid but applies only to cardiac arrest.

CPR is the only treatment that can help a victim of cardiac arrest because their heart has already stopped beating, and their condition is critical. The faster CPR is administered, the better the chance of the person’s revival and survival. Once revived, the person must be taken to a medical specialist immediately for further assessment of their condition and the cause.

A patient suffering from cardiac arrest cannot breathe. Therefore, the oxygen supply needed by the body is cut off. Since cells within the body rely on oxygen within the blood, damage starts taking place immediately when it is suddenly cut off. CPR training teaches you how to provide artificial heartbeat and restore blood circulation (also with the help of an AED), helping prevent damage to other vital organs. CPR training teaches you how to monitor the patient’s pulse and the importance of performing CPR until professional responders arrive.

CPR is Based on Specific Procedures

CPR training teaches you the correct procedures that must be carried out when helping a person suffering from cardiac arrest. During the training course, you are taught how each step follows the other and how to administer CPR without injuring the patient. Students will also learn how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a specific tool used on victims of cardiac arrest.

First aid training courses vary, but they give participants the chance to learn important skills to confidently help people in emergencies. In Canada, there are several levels of First Aid training, including Emergency First Aid and Standard First Aid.

For individuals who are not redoing a course to maintain their certification, these courses are designed to offer complete preparation on various important aspects of first aid training, including CPR. What do you do in First Aid training, though?

What You Should Know Before Attending a First Aid Course

First aid training courses welcome everybody and teach you important life-saving skills, giving you the knowledge and confidence to deal with any type of emergency. Whether you need to learn the skills for your workplace or personal reasons, they prove invaluable training.

There are several techniques you can expect to learn from the course, and you need no prior knowledge to learn everything required to get your first aid certification.

Preparing For the Course

You may feel that the course will prove too challenging for you to take everything in, and may be tempted to learn a few things beforehand. However, you don’t need to do anything to prepare for the course, because if you choose a good Red Cross training partner, you will learn everything required and how to practice it correctly.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

At the course, you will participate in practical demonstrations, requiring you to kneel on the floor. We recommend you wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Read the requirements for the course you are interested in, because some disabilities may make it impossible for you to participate. You must be able to perform the hands-on skills to earn your certification.

Course Training

Depending on the course and the level you choose, there will be a mixture of practical and theory modules covered during the hours required to complete the first aid course.

You will learn to examine a victim, use a defibrillator, perform CPR, and how to control bleeding and trauma. These basic skills are important for you to deal with any potentially life-threatening situation until medically trained first responders arrive.

Students will learn how to treat scalds and burns, and assist someone who is choking. You will also be taught the importance of recording everything about the patient, and how to pass on this information to other responders. 100% attendance is required for the courses, and you need to get 75% or higher on your knowledge test. Your certification will be valid for three years.

First aid knowledge and certification are important for you, your family and your community. Injuries and sudden illnesses are not uncommon, and first aid enables you to assist anyone in need. Basic first aid certification is easy to get, allowing you to offer initial assistance to people, whether the emergency is in your home, workplace, or a public space.

The simple techniques and procedures you are taught are invaluable when it comes to helping others. You are taught to offer assistance with limited equipment until professional medical assistance arrives.

First aid training is often put off by people who say they don’t have the time, are unsure where to get the basic training, don’t believe they will ever need it or feel they already have enough first aid knowledge.

Learning about the three P’s is what everyone learning to administer first aid is taught. These essentials are to preserve life, prevent further injury and promote recovery. Don’t put off learning these important life-saving skills.

Why Is It Important to Know and Use the Fundamentals of First Aid?

The fundamentals of first aid training allow trained people to assist an injured or ill person during several types of emergencies.

These situations include the ingestion of a harmful substance, someone suffering a heart attack, seizure or stroke, and several types of accidents, whether in the workplace or a motor vehicle accident. Additionally, first aid training prepares you on how to react if anyone needs assistance during a natural disaster.

• As a trained and knowledgeable person, even if it’s just in the basics of First Aid, you can assist an injured person until the arrival of emergency responders. Communities and workplaces benefit when a large majority of people within them have first aid training.
• First Aid knowledge also benefits the injured or ill party and all those around them. Whether people are directly or indirectly involved in an emergency, first aid diminishes its severity.
• First Aid knowledge and training are beneficial to everyone, but it is even more valuable for anyone who lives or works with individuals requiring ongoing special attention or treatment, including children, chronic illness sufferers, those with physical or mental disabilities, the elderly, persons with disorders such as epilepsy, anyone working in a dangerous environment (like factories and construction sites) or at recreational facilities.

Situations where people are hurt or experience a sudden incapacity to breathe can happen at the most unexpected times and places. CPR and First Aid classes prepare you to deal with any unforeseen situations by providing you with the correct knowledge of different lifesaving skills.

You may be wondering, “What Exactly will I learn from CPR and First Aid class?” is one of the many questions that come to mind when thinking about first aid training, so let’s dive into it!

Difference between CPR and First Aid

CPR and First Aid training are different because they entail different lifesaving skills. If a person is suffering from cardiac arrest, CPR is applied to assist them until help arrives. On the other hand, a person who is injured requires first aid assistance.

Skills and knowledge acquired with CPR Training

CPR/AED training prepares you for your role as an emergency service provider

1. CPR Laws and Safety

During the training, you are taught to watch for the signs of various health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, etc. Courses also teach you how to assess the situation if the person is unresponsive. You can expect to learn the universal precautions that are essential in any emergency and how to take personal safety measures when attending to someone.

Part of the training includes learning laws to protect a victim as well as yourself. You will learn when to provide care, how to check if a scene is safe and how to direct bystanders for additional assistance. During CPR training, you learn the skills required to ensure you practice the chain of survival and the Good Samaritan regulations. You are also taught how to work alone or in a coordinated team.   

2. CPR Knowledge

There are several different types of CPR/AED courses available to choose from. In-depth training is aimed to help you understand the importance of CPR and how it is administered. The information offered covers how proper CPR restores breathing and blood circulation to save lives. Students will learn how to administer CPR using hands and rescue breaths and working together with a team to provide CPR with the use of an AED (automated external defibrillator).

Most importantly, you learn how to apply CPR according to the age of the victim. CPR/AED Level C training includes learning how to perform CPR on all age groups, including infants. CPR/AED Level A, on the other hand, only teaches you how to perform CPR on adults.

The Red Cross Virtual Babysitting Program is available to pre-teens and teens, ages 11 to 15 years old. There is also a course for children ages 9 to 13 called Stay Safe. Both the Babysitting and Stay Safe training courses are available online in a virtual format. These youth courses are designed to allow participants to complete their training at home. There are multiple benefits of the Virtual Babysitting program which will teach you (or your child) important life skills.

Babysitting training prepares participants to become responsible caretakers of children. Once the virtual Babysitting program is completed, applicants will have a full understanding of how to care for a young child and treat common emergencies. They also know all about complete child safety and how important routine is in children.

Those who complete the full virtual babysitting program earn a Canadian Red Cross certificate proving their skills. Let’s talk about 5 Benefits of the Virtual Babysitting program!

5 Benefits of the Virtual Babysitting Program For Your Business

The Virtual Babysitting Program is between 7 and 8 hours long and is held over four days. Each day will consist of a 90 minute online session, followed by 30 minutes of at-home work.

These are the five huge benefits of completing the Red Cross Virtual Babysitting Program if you are looking into building a babysitting business:

1. Succeeding in the Interview Process

Getting a good babysitting job doesn’t only depend on your skills but also on how you conduct yourself in an interview. One of the benefits of completing a virtual babysitting course is that you learn about how important it is to conduct yourself in the interview while also asking all the right questions. Participants are taught how to create a resumé and create business cards so that they can successfully manage their babysitting business. Don’t forget that you will receive a babysitting certificate from the Canadian Red Cross which already is a huge plus for you.

2. Meeting Customer Expectations

Learning to meet customer expectations is another vital benefit of the course. Besides being dressed correctly when arriving for the job, other customer expectations include being on time and having clear communication with the parents about their children’s needs. You are taught to ask the right questions about what to expect, find out if there are any special circumstances (allergies, medications, etc.). Participants of the course also learn how to survey the home at first, helping them to understand where dangers may lie.

First Aid certification offers the training required to save lives. These life saving skills are vital in situations where people are suddenly taken ill or are seriously injured, helping to ensure they are stabilized before professional help arrives.

Difference Between Emergency and Standard First Aid

Emergency First Aid is a comprehensive course designed to cover basic first aid. This course allows trainees to deal with various emergencies and can be completed in one day.

In a Standard First Aid course, the same emergencies are covered in greater depth, but some other skills are also added. Trainees complete the course in 2 days (or 8 hours online and 8 hours in-class for the Online Blended format), and each skill is practiced to ensure it can be carried out with confidence.

Both Emergency and Standard First Aid training certificates are valid for 3 years. When it comes to renewal, Emergency First Aid cannot be recertified; it requires full training again. Standard First Aid can be recertified once, thereafter, candidates alternate between a full and recertification course.

10 Topics Covered in Emergency and Standard First Aid

Both Emergency and Standard First Aid include these 10 topics:

1.  Lowering the risk of infection

Here, participants are taught to practice correct hygiene, how to use personal protective equipment (wearing and removing it) to prevent cross infections and the basic rules of wound care.

2.  Three Cs of Emergencies

During an emergency, it is often difficult to think clearly. First Aid training is based on the three P’s – preserve life, prevent patient deterioration, and promote recovery. To achieve this, participants are taught the three Cs of an emergency. These are Check (check surroundings for dangers and remove them and complete the ABCs), Call (call EMS or 911 for help), and Care (perform CPR or other necessary care).

A valid first aid certificate is very important if you require it for your workplace, school program, or just want to help people in any emergency. Recertification helps to keep your training updated and ensures that you don’t forget the skills already learned. If you want to continue practicing your first aid skills confidently if someone is hurt or feeling ill, then recertification is vital.

A common question we receive is, “how do I recertify my first aid training?”

Validity of First Aid Certificates in Ontario

Canadian Red Cross First Aid Certificates are valid for 3 years, but others may expire in less. It is vital to ensure that the recertification training is completed before your certificate expires to maintain your certification. It is important to keep your first aid and CPR/AED certificate up-to-date in order to keep your job, continue a schooling program or for your own personal knowledge.

In Ontario, recertification courses are available for some training levels. These include CPR/AED Level C, Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C, First Responder and Emergency Medical Responder.

Other certificates, such as CPR/AED Level A or Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C, require that you register for a full training course because recertification courses are not allowed.

First Aid Recertification

Any approved first aid provider in Ontario can offer recertification courses. There are several types of courses available, depending on the type of recertification required.

Coast2Coast partners with Canadian Red Cross to offer several first aid and CPR/AED courses and recertification in over 15 locations in Ontario, including Toronto. Recertification is a very easy process. Once you have completed the course, you will receive your recertification which is valid for 3 years.