Covid 19 Update – Office Closure & Courses Postponed

COVID-19 Update: How Coast2Coast Adapted to Keep Canadians Safe and Trained

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to every sector of Canadian life, and the first aid and CPR training industry was no exception. When public health authorities issued guidelines requiring physical distancing and restrictions on in-person gatherings, Coast2Coast First Aid and Aquatics took immediate action to protect our students, instructors, and communities while working to ensure that life-saving first aid and CPR training remained accessible to Canadians who needed it. This article reflects on our response to the pandemic, the measures we implemented, and how the experience has made our training programs stronger and more resilient than ever. From the earliest days of the pandemic, our priority was clear: the safety of our students and staff comes first, always. At the same time, we recognized that the need for trained first aiders and CPR-certified individuals did not diminish during a pandemic — if anything, it increased. Healthcare workers, essential service employees, and everyday Canadians needed to maintain their certifications and skills during a time when medical emergencies continued to occur alongside the additional health crisis. Balancing these competing priorities required creativity, flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to both safety and quality.

Our Initial Response: Prioritizing Safety

When COVID-19 restrictions were first announced, Coast2Coast immediately suspended all in-person training courses in accordance with public health directives. This was not an easy decision — we knew that many students had upcoming courses they needed for employment, certification renewal, or personal preparedness. However, we recognized that gathering groups of people for hands-on training during a respiratory pandemic would be irresponsible, regardless of the demand for our services. During this pause, our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop solutions that would allow us to resume training safely. We consulted with public health authorities, followed guidelines from the Canadian Red Cross, and implemented comprehensive safety protocols that would protect everyone involved in our training programs. Our goal was to return to training as quickly as possible while maintaining the highest standards of safety and infection control.

Enhanced Safety Protocols for Training

When in-person training resumed, Coast2Coast implemented a comprehensive set of safety measures that reflected the latest public health guidance:

Reduced Class Sizes

We significantly reduced the number of students in each class to allow for appropriate physical distancing. Smaller classes also meant more individual attention from instructors, which actually improved the quality of training. While this required offering more sessions to accommodate the same number of students, the safety of our participants was non-negotiable.

Enhanced Sanitization

All training equipment — mannequins, AED trainers, bandages, and other supplies — underwent thorough sanitization between every use. Training spaces were cleaned and disinfected before and after each session. Hand sanitizer stations were placed throughout the facility, and students were required to sanitize their hands frequently throughout the course.

Personal Protective Equipment

Masks and face shields were provided and required during certain training activities, particularly those involving close contact such as CPR practice. Individual barrier devices were used for rescue breathing exercises, and each student received their own set of practice supplies wherever possible to minimize shared contact.

Health Screening

All students and instructors completed health screening questionnaires before each session. Anyone showing symptoms of illness was asked to reschedule their training. This screening process, combined with our other measures, created multiple layers of protection that significantly reduced the risk of transmission in our training environment.

Blended Learning: Innovation Born from Necessity

One of the most significant positive outcomes of the pandemic was the acceleration of blended learning programs for first aid and CPR training. Blended learning combines online theory instruction with in-person practical skills sessions, reducing the amount of time students need to spend in a classroom while maintaining the hands-on practice that is essential for skills development. The online component allows students to learn at their own pace, reviewing material as many times as needed and completing knowledge assessments from the comfort of their homes. The in-person component — now shorter due to the theory already being covered online — focuses exclusively on hands-on skills practice and evaluation. This format not only reduced the risk of disease transmission by minimizing in-person contact time but also proved to be more convenient for many students who preferred the flexibility of online learning.

CPR Modifications During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted important discussions about how to perform CPR safely during a respiratory pandemic. Public health authorities and resuscitation organizations issued modified guidelines that addressed the risk of disease transmission during rescue breathing. For lay rescuers, the recommendation was to perform hands-only CPR (chest compressions without rescue breathing) and to place a cloth or mask over the patient’s face during compressions. For healthcare providers with appropriate PPE, conventional CPR with ventilation continued to be recommended. These modifications were incorporated into our CPR training courses, ensuring that students learned both standard CPR techniques and pandemic-modified approaches. Understanding when and how to adapt CPR technique based on the circumstances is an important aspect of real-world emergency preparedness.

Watch: CPR in the COVID-19 Era

Lessons Learned: A Stronger Future for Training

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged us to rethink how we deliver training, and many of the innovations we developed have become permanent improvements to our programs. Enhanced sanitization protocols remain in place because they make sense regardless of pandemic conditions. Blended learning options continue to offer students greater flexibility and convenience. Smaller class sizes remain available for students who prefer a more intimate learning environment. Most importantly, the pandemic reinforced a truth that has always been central to our mission: first aid and CPR training saves lives, and access to this training should never be compromised. Whether the emergency is a cardiac arrest, a traumatic injury, or a pandemic, trained individuals are better equipped to protect themselves and others. The skills taught in first aid courses — scene assessment, infection control, patient care, and emergency response — are relevant in every situation, including public health emergencies.

Moving Forward: Training Is Available Now

Coast2Coast First Aid and Aquatics is fully operational, offering the complete range of first aid, CPR/AED, BLS, and EMR courses at locations across Canada. Whether you need initial certification, recertification, or workplace group training, we are here to help you get the skills you need in a safe, professional, and welcoming environment.