The Need to Know’s of an Emergency Medical Responder Course

A person wearing blue gloves performs CPR chest compressions on another individual lying on the ground. A second person assists with a bag-valve mask in the background, providing ventilation. Both wear red uniforms, indicating emergency medical services.

We will give you the Who, What, Where, Why and How’s of our Emergency Medical Responder course at Coast2Coast!

What

The Emergency Medical Responder course is an 8 day, 80 hour program which provides the necessary skills and knowledge to help preserve lives, reduce pain, and diminish the consequences of injuries and sudden illnesses for those who are a part of a medical healthcare provider in a pre-hospital setting.  

The first part of the course is about Preparing to Respond: the program goes through the responder, the emergency scene (location, victims, bystanders, injuries) and how to prevent disease transmission at the scene and in the ambulance.

Part Two of the course is about Establishing Priorities of Care. It goes through the human body anatomy and physiology, as well as an assessment of the current situation of the victim. This part goes through the main medical emergencies that responders are accustomed to, such as respiratory and circulatory emergencies, airway and ventilation problems, bleeding, shock, as well as pharmacology to understand medications that the victim may be on or may need.

Our third part of the course goes through the process of identifying and helping those with Traumatic Injuries. This includes but is not limited to soft tissue, musculoskeletal, head and spine, chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries

Part Four goes through non-injury Medical Emergencies, which includes how to help those with sudden illnesses, poison ingestion, and temperature related emergencies (heat and frozen)

The fifth and last portion of the course is handling Special Populations and Situations. Topics will be centered around special populations and crisis intervention, with events such as childbirth, reaching and moving patients from the area, multiple casualty and victim incidents, and transportation and workplace situations.

Who

Many of our course participants go on to be fire-fighters, law-enforcement officers, and become a part of an emergency medical services personnel.

One must have a Standard First Aid and CPR/AED Level C to be able to take the course. Anyone who completes the Standard First Aid course can enroll in the Emergency Medical Responder course!

Why

The world we live in today is full of danger and unexpected circumstances that require many first responders and emergency medical responders to aid victims of such tragic incidents.

Obtaining the Emergency Medical Responder certificate proves to the community that you are ready to help anyone in need if a medical emergency were to happen, and that you care about the well-being and safety of your city or town!

Logo for Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics Inc. featuring a stylized wave in red and blue, with black circular shapes. Company name written below in blue text.

Where

Coast2Coast offers the Emergency Medical Responder course at 4 of our locations:

North York – #216, 180 Steeles Ave. W, Thornhill, Ontario

Toronto – 635A Bloor St. W, Toronto, Ontario

Markham – #2, 1080 Tapscott Rd, Markham, Ontario

Brampton – 83 Kennedy Rd. S, Brampton, Ontario

Hamilton (Stoney Creek) – #104, 43 Keefer Court, Hamilton, Ontario

London – #304A, 717 Richmond St, London, Ontario

How

There are two ways to register for our Emergency Medical Responder course:

Call our toll-free phone number at 1-866-291-9121 to speak with one of our representatives to register you over the phone.

Go to our registration page here and click one of the previous locations stated above to register for a course. We offer the course once a month in each location.

Start saving lives by registering with Coast2Coast First Aid today!

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How to Perform CPR on Pets to Save Their Lives

Our pets are not just companions; they are essentials members of our families who deserve the same care and love as anyone else. When it comes to your pet’s health and safety, many of us keep up with their diet and exercise, and go to regular check ups at the vet, but seldom of us realize the dangers of our animal friends when it comes to choking.

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What To Do If Your Pets are not Breathing?

Every public institution you send your child to, whether it is a school, after-school program, club sport, religious centre, or daycare; you want to know that they are safe at all times. With the recent story of a young boy choking to death in a mosque in England, it has many of us worried that not everyone who is looking after our children are CPR/AED or First Aid trained.

There were several reasons why this result ended morbidly, which included not knowing how to use a defibrillator, or the location of one, volunteers and staff not being trained in emergency first aid, but most of all, not knowing how to respond to infants and children in choking and breathing emergencies.

These stories are somber to read, but they must be reminders for those working with children to be updated in their CPR and first-aid knowledge, as well as being aware of the defibrillator locations in all facilities.

Although child care workers are required to have CPR and First-Aid training, there are many establishments we send our children to where volunteers and staff do not have the requirements to be first aid certified. Your child’s safety is the number one priority; it is up to you to make sure that whoever is in care of your son, daughter, or relative is certified in the appropriate way.

People in a first aid class practicing CPR on a dummy with an automated external defibrillator (AED) nearby. Participants are seated on the floor, focusing on the training session.

 

The first action is to know the whereabouts of the facilities’ defibrillator, or commonly known as an AED. The device is used to deliver electrical currents through the heart, via the defibrillation pads attached to the machine. Survival rates go from 5% with only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to 75% with an automatic external defibrillator.

To learn more about what defib’s are, check out our blog post where we explain how to use one and where they are usually located.It is essential to be comfortable using a defibrillator in an emergency. In all our First-Aid and CPR courses at Coast2Coast, we provide the knowledge and practice of how to use a AED on infants, children, and adults (depending on your level of choice).

For most public centres, the AED would be located in the front foyer or staff room. When touring a new place, such as a church or sports facility, it is important to find out where the facility AED is located, and which staff members and volunteers know of its location, and how to use it.

Along with knowing about the facility’s AED location, it is also beneficial to find out how many first-aid kits are in the building, and where exactly they are located. Let your child know in what rooms or who has them, as he or she might be in a scenario where it is up to them to find one if there is no other supervisor around.

 

A man is assisting a child by wrapping a bandage around the child's knee. They are sitting on a wooden bench in a sunny outdoor setting, surrounded by grass and trees. The man is wearing a white shirt and blue shorts, and the child is in a green shirt.

As well as being trained in AED use, all staff workers and volunteers with children should be trained in Emergency First-Aid (EFA). Coast2Coast offers the EFA in a one day course that covers skills such as CPR, wound care, and emergency situations. We also offer our EFA course in an online blended curriculum, which allows the participant to study theory at home, and practice the skills in class for half the day.

Emergency first-aid covers many situations that your child may face, such as heat exhaustion, burns, choking, and intense bleeding. As well as your child’s caretaker, it is invaluable as a parent or guardian to obtain first aid training as well. Moreover, it gives you some skills that might be useful to save your pet’s life.

Last but not least, those in care of children should be fully educated in reacting and saving a child or infant from choking or breathing emergencies. Like many cases such as the young boy at the beginning of this blog, they rely on adults to help them when they are in pain and danger.

If a child does begin to choke, begin CPR immediately with thirty compressions, checking the airway, and repeating for two minutes. If you are the only person around, call 911. If there is a child or adult around, have them call 911 and find the AED while you are with the child in need.

 

A man in red demonstrates a hand signal, standing near a woman on the phone, in front of a CPR instruction board. A CPR dummy is on the table. The board lists CPR steps and the compression-to-breath ratio, "30:2.

For children and infants, chest compressions are performed differently, as they only need two fingers (infants), or pressing down two inches (child). Make sure the neck is not tilted back too far for babies, as you do not want to cause head or neck injury as well. Continue doing compressions and checking for breathing until emergency medical responders come. When checking for breathing, and if no air is being released, put your mouth over the nose and mouth (infant) or cover the mouth with your mouth and hold the nose (child) to do rescue breathing.

These methods can be properly taught through our CPR/AED courses, especially in our level C course, where we show the exact techniques one must do for a baby or kid that is choking. Our classes go through step-by-step instructions and show the exact techniques for every situation possible.

Our kids are our most precious treasures, and we want them to feel safe and protected at all times. With their teachers, caregivers, youth group leaders, and any other worker or volunteer that is under their care, we hope that in any emergency situation they can preserve life and not cause a fatality because of their ignorance to first aid and CPR training.

With the school year coming up, youngsters all around will begin new activities and sports for enrichment purposes. Talk about first-aid and CPR experience when registering your child, and know that Coast2Coast First Aid is here for all your training needs!

 

 

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Canadian Teen Proves All Are Capable to be Swimming Champions

A group of people swimming in a pool, using kickboards. They are aligned in a row, each focusing on swimming. The pool area has blue tiles and a modern look, with some equipment visible in the background.

Julia Lane from Windsor, Ontario proves to Canada and the world that anyone can swim, no matter what obstacles one may face.

The 18-year-old competed with hundreds of youths and adults at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Truro, Nova Scotia in July, coming home with a silver medal and four bronze medals – a feat for any trained competitive swimmer. Lane was one of only twenty-two swimmers representing Canada, with over twenty-five countries representing themselves at the Championship.

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Emergency First Aid Help for Victims of Mass Shootings

Toronto skyline with the CN Tower and various skyscrapers under a blue sky with clouds. Buildings are reflected in the calm water in the foreground, creating a mirrored effect.

 

This past shooting on Danforth Avenue in Greektown, Toronto has us concerned and worried for the safety and protection of our city.

We mourn for the families and loved ones for those who lost someone and hope and pray for a speedy and healthy recovery from those who have been injured in the shooting. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has had over 200 shootings in 2018, with 26 fatalities as a result. It is unfortunate that we now have to become aware of our surroundings at all times, but we must be prepared for future shootings and massacres to happen again.

Coast2Coast provides the community of GTA with Emergency and Standard First Aid courses to equip and strengthen our communities with First-Aid trained members. Through various news outlets, we find that many first aid trained people have helped out several victims and have saved many lives because of their proficiency and courage. However, there are still far too many people who succumb to death or face life-altering injuries that could have been prevented or helped with first aid assistance.

Many bystanders who are in the area of a mass shooting often flee the scene for their own safety before assessing the area to see if they could provide first aid to any victims. In these horrific situations, emergency medical responders are often delayed, depending on how large the area affected is, and how many people are needed to be treated. The most important thing in preserving one’s life during a mass shooting is to stop the bleeding.

To begin to help, always call 911 when you see someone bleeding from a shooting. Then assess the area to make sure the shooter(s) have left the area, and that there are no hazards or objects around you that can injure you and the person in need.

Find out if the victim is responsive, and explain your steps of aid to you and other bystanders loudly and clearly. If they are responsive, ask consent to remove or cut away the clothing to calculate where the wound is, and where to put the dressing and/or tourniquet. If the victim is unresponsive, let the bystanders know what you are doing and explain why you are removing the clothing for assessment and first aid.

For those who lose blood at a very fast rate often experience shock, where the body shuts off all functions, which concludes with the brain turning off and resulting in death. This is why it is imperative to stop the bleeding FAST. If the weather is cold or freezing, try to keep the person in need with warm garments and/or blankets where there is no injury or wound. As bullets can infiltrate bones and muscles, keep their movements to a minimum, as the location of the bullet often go unseen unless assessed by an emergency medical responder or a medical professional.

With your emergency first aid training, begin the dressings with an available first aid kit, or available garments that can be wrapped around the wound. If extreme bleeding continues to be an issue, apply a tourniquet (if no first aid kit is available, use a shoelace, belt, scarves, etc.) that is two to three inches above the wound. If bleeding goes through the bandages, DO NOT take them off. Just continue to put dressings over the old ones and make sure the tourniquet is tight and secure.

Once the patient has been dressed with bandages, keep them calm until emergency medical responders relieve you of your duty. Make sure they are as comfortable as possible, as they might still be going through shock and trauma of the shooting. Most importantly, make sure the location is safe for you to be in, and stop any aiding if the bearings become unsafe for you and other bystanders.

Stay with them until emergency medical responders (EMR) take over, as they may have questions they want to ask you about the shooting, the victim, how long you have been there, etc. Along with the EMR staff, report the incident to the police on the scene, and describe the wound, and if you have any knowledge of who the shooter was or what they looked like, wore, spoke, etc.

Helping a victim itself is a traumatic event in itself; one can feel anxiety, spirts of depression, and confusion. It is important during this time to surround yourself with positive and loving people, such as family members, romantic partners, and friends, who are here for you and can talk to you about what happened. If signs of anxiety, depression, and panic continue and/or worsen, it is important to seek external help. Asking for help is a big sign of strength, and can help you overcome the trauma you have went through for your courageous gesture.

At Coast2Coast, we pride ourselves in training the GTA with credible Canadian Red Cross classes for unfortunate situations such as The Danforth shooting. We cannot prevent massacres and immoral incidents from happening in our community; instead, we can be equipped and educated for these events to continue to help save lives when these tragedies occur. Call or register online to sign up for one of our First Aid & CPR/AED classes today and be the lifesaver your community needs today!

 

 

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What is an AED and where can you find it?

A group of people participate in a first aid training session. A woman demonstrates CPR on a baby mannequin while others observe and practice. The Coast2Coast and Canadian Red Cross logos are visible, along with contact information for registration.

You are in a scenario where you see someone grab their chest, lose all colour in their face, and suddenly drop to the ground, unconscious while displaying no movement or breathing. The signs resemble of someone suffering from a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). You know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but where is the closest defibrillator?

Decreasing the time it takes to locate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is essential to the little time you have to save one’s life. If an AED is used on a sudden cardiac arrest victim within the first minute of collapse, their probability of survival is 90%. For every minute that passes, their likelihood of survival drops 10%, leaving a 10 minute ‘window of opportunity.’

Where is your nearest DEFIB (AED)?

Not every defibrillator has their location registered. The location varies in every town, but defib’s are universally located in large public places, such as:

  • Hospitals – Hospital wings, or at the closest nursing station
  • Community Centres – Foyer (front entrance)
  • Schools – Front office or staff room
  • Business Centres – Ground level, next to the evacuation/escape plan
  • Golf, Football, Soccer, Swimming, Hockey and Cricket Clubs  – Function rooms
  • Gymnasiums – Hinged and signed on the walls near gym equipment. Try the wall closest to the treadmills or cardio equipment
  • Shopping Malls/Centres – Guest services and public washrooms
  • Public Libraries – Foyer (front entrance)
  • Zoo’s – Front office and staff room.

What you MUST know before using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)?

Before using an AED, understanding its proper usage is crucial. The following YouTube short guides you through essential tips every potential responder should have to help someone with an AED. These seven tips will help you remember the right ways to operate a defirillator in a cardiac arrest emergency. Whether you’re at home, work, or in public spaces, being prepared can make all the difference. Watch now to learn how to confidently and effectively use an AED in critical moments.

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Equip your home or workplace with a life-saving AED from Coast2Coast. Our high-quality automated external defibrillators are easy to use and can make all the difference in a critical situation.
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How does a Defib work?

Defibrillation operates by delivering an electrical current through the heart muscle, via the defibrillation pads. All electrical activity in the heart becomes pulseless, in the belief that when the pulse returns,  it will be in a rhythm that is coordinated with an effective pumping motion.

Survival rates are the highest when defibrillation is given within the first few minutes of the time of the collapse. Greater defibrillator availability and recognition of device locations will increase the survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests victims. Coast2Coast offers CPR/AED courses that properly educate how to administer a defibrillator, and how to recognize and respond to those in a cardiovascular emergency.  

How to perform a primary survey and what is DRSABCD?

Primary survey is the first thing that should be done when observing and helping a victim in need. The abbreviation DRSABCD is the acronym check-list we ask bystanders to use to in the process of saving lives.

D = Danger. Check for danger before approaching the victim. Whereabouts to check for may include live wires, exposed needles, or flammable liquids. Your safety ALWAYS comes first.

R = Response. Attempt to get a response from the victim by asking them to say their name or squeeze your hand.

S = Send for Help. If there is no response, now is the time to call 911. If there are other people present at the scene, send someone to locate the nearest defibrillator.

A = Airway. Is the airway clear? Check to make sure the victim has nothing in their mouth, such as broken teeth, food or vomit.

B = Breathing. Once a clear airway is established, check to see if the victim is breathing.

C = Compressions. Commence chest compressions at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. You should be pushing at the depth of 1/3 of the victim’s chest, and at a rate of 100 chest compressions per minute (this will be interrupted by administering their breathing). Coast2Coast teaches you the proper method of compressions and how not to over-exert yourself of energy.

D = Defibrillator. Apply the defibrillator following the voice prompts. If emergency medical staff are there applying the AED, follow their instructions.

It is never too late to learn CPR and how to accurately use a defibrillator; contact Coast2Coast to find out more about our CPR/AED courses and becoming a lifesaver today!

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Register today for a CPR and First Aid training course at one of our locations across Ontario! Check out our facilities and book your spot now.
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Swimming as a Popular and Healthy Summer Sport

Five children in swim caps and goggles line up at the edge of an indoor swimming pool. They are smiling and lying on their stomachs with their hands on the pool deck, ready to enter the water. One child splashes water behind them.

Besides the fact that swimming improves balance, coordination, and posture, it is also a flourishing physical activity to enhance cardio, burn calories, and gain muscle! The popularity of the sport is a result of open participation — everyone can learn how to swim! Swimming is a non-impact activity which helps those who have problems in their joints, knees, lower back, and those who are differently abled to improve their health, movement, and their accessibility.

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The Importance of First Aid This Summer

A person in a wetsuit performs CPR on another person lying on a rocky beach. The backdrop features a serene view of the ocean and trees. The image includes contact details for Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics, a Canadian Red Cross Training Partner.

If one thing’s sure enough, it’s this: Toronto will be absolutely hot throughout the summer. In response, many folks within the region head for the water on the weekends and holidays. Whether it’s in the form of a backyard or community pool, a beach, getting wet is that the best way to remain cool throughout the scorching summer months. However, along with all of the fun of swimming comes several dangers. In fact, drowning number one cause of accidental death for Torontonians kids aged zero to five years. These serious statistics highlight the importance of being as safe as possible when by the water this summer – and could be a reminder of the advantages of taking swimming lessons, as well.

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How Knowing CPR Can Save Lives?

People are practicing CPR on mannequins during a training session. A person in a bright vest is performing chest compressions on a dummy in the foreground, with others doing the same in the background. There are onlookers watching the demonstration.

 More than 300 thousand people die because of cardiac arrest every year. The risk of heart diseases is higher in senior citizens. 70% of adults above the age of 60 have some kind of cardiac problem. There are different types of health issues that can be the cause of cardiac arrest. There are also other social factors that can lead to this situation of life or death. If people are properly trained, knowing CPR can help save lives. Trained individuals would be ready to take immediate action when required. Coast2coast First Aid & Aquatics offers all the necessary First Aid & CPR Courses in Toronto. Here are some reasons why knowing CPR can be helpful.

CPR can help save lives

               A person’s brain and organs can die within minutes when the cardiac arrest occurs. Once the heart stops pumping the blood, brain death will only take 4 to 6 minutes. Taking quick action, performing CPR on the person suffering from cardiac arrest can help to pump blood in the body. It might take professionals sometime to arrive at the scene. If you will perform CPR immediately, organs of the body including brain will get oxygen and so survival, chances will increase. The chances of survival will be doubled if you will perform CPR within 2 minutes of cardiac arrest.

CPR training is beneficial for everyone

                   More than 90% of the people who die every year due to cardiac arrest do not get immediate help. We at our Toronto First Aid & CPR training facility help you learn all the right skills. The survival chances could be improved if everyone knew how to perform CPR. Even in the younger individuals risk of cardiac arrest has increased because of a sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits. People of all age groups should have complete CPR training.

Your family or friends may need it

                    While getting CPR training you might be thinking about how you can help a stranger. However, someone in your family or workplace can be saved from sudden cardiac arrest because you performed CPR immediately. In 70% of cases, cardiac arrest happens at and people often do not get the chance to reach the hospital. You will be grateful for the skills that you have if the need arises. It will allow you to save the life of someone you love. In the case, you have taken a First Aid & CPR Course before, you could Recertify at one of our Downtown Toronto First Aid and CPR Recertification courses.

It can happen to anyone

              Most of the time cardiac arrest do not happen to people who are suffering from chronic heart or health condition. Traumatic accidents, choking, electric shock and drowning can be the cause of cardiac arrest. When taking one of our First Aid & CPR courses in downtown Toronto, you will be aware of all the situation where you need to be alert. There are some health conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest like.
1. Infections
2. Heart disease
3. Diabetes
4. Allergic reactions
5. Sudden cardiac arrest because of stress or depression.

Do not shy away

You might not feel confident when someone needs CPR. When you take your CPR training at Coast2coast First Aid & Aquatics your confidence level will increase and that will help you to make the right decision and save someone’s life.

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