Do I Need First Aid and CPR Training?

Anyone faced with an emergency situation can benefit from First Aid and CPR training because they may be able to save someone’s life. According to statistics, CPR can better the chances of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest if administered immediately as most cases of cardiac arrest happen in the home.

If you’re wondering, “do I need first aid and CPR training?”, we will discuss the benefits, requirements and how to complete a training course.

Benefits of First Aid Training

First Aid training has several benefits because you acquire the knowledge and skills to provide the appropriate care in most emergency situations calmly and confidently.

The skills learned during First Aid training include detecting a stroke, heart attack, anaphylaxis, dealing with injuries, cardiac arrest and more. It also teaches you how to correctly perform CPR when needed. During the training, you will practice treating wounds, burns, choking, drowning, and suffocation in victims.

The skills learned are essential for parents, caregivers, and job seekers in almost all fields. Research also shows that children as young as nine years old can learn the correct administration of CPR. It may be beneficial for you to enroll your children in a Babysitting or Stay Safe training course!

There are two levels of First Aid: Emergency and Standard. We recommend that students complete Standard First Aid because it provides more information and skills compared to Emergency First Aid.

Who Needs First Aid Training?

Most commonly, medical professionals are the ones who require First Aid & CPR training. This group includes doctors, nurses, medical assistants, paramedics, and other rescue workers like lifeguards and ski patrols.

In addition to medical professionals, all childcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, sports coaches, construction workers, correctional services staff, flight attendants, security guards, electricians and more require first aid & CPR training.

All businesses must also ensure that the required number of workers have First Aid Certification, whether they are shop assistants, factory workers, secretaries, servers, managers, and volunteers. According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, businesses covered by their fund must have trained personnel and first aid equipment on their premises.

The training must come from a WSIB-approved First Aid provider, and the appropriate number of staff must complete the First Aid course and receive certification according to the guidelines.

Required First Aid Training in the Workplace

Mandatory WSIB First Aid training depends on the number of people working per shift at any given time in the workplace.

In workplaces with five or fewer people working per shift, one or more people with an Emergency First Aid & CPR certificate must be present. In workplaces with more than six people working per shift, at least one person must have a Standard First Aid & CPR certificate.

Since all these employees mentioned above work with many people and often work under hazardous conditions, First Aid & CPR training allows them to recognize and assist in health or work-related emergencies.

Is First Aid and CPR Training Mandatory?

First Aid training is not always mandatory. Typically, school programs and workplaces are implementing these certifications, but not every school or business requires this training. Although, there are several reasons why you should get certified regardless of your profession.

Recognizing emergencies and saving lives requires knowledge, skills, and confidence. First Aid training provides these, allowing you to face any situation from choking, accidents caused by the use of dangerous equipment, and even recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis. You learn in which order CPR and other techniques are applied, often making the difference between temporary or long-term side effects.

Besides saving a life, First Aid training teaches you to ease the pain and discomfort caused by falls and fever, even if the patient does not need to go to the hospital.

Some situations where basic first aid care is not applied immediately may lead to the victim’s condition deteriorating rapidly. This weakens their chance of survival until emergency medical care (EMS) arrives. Your First Aid training can save valuable time by helping the victim, explaining the situation to emergency services, and their current condition.

Perhaps First Aid training is not mandatory, but it helps you become a valuable link in the chain of another person’s survival in an emergency.

How to Complete First Aid Training

Whether you must get First Aid training for your work or just want to help others, completing First Aid training is far easier than most people think. The time required depends on the training necessary, but it won’t take more than two days for advanced training and one day for basic training.

Coast2Coast has several First Aid Course options to ensure that everyone has the correct training for their needs. Training may be done in the online blended method, allowing you to do the theoretical work in your own time at home before attending an in-person session. As a Canadian Red Cross training partner, Coast2Coast has experienced trainers and provides WSIB-approved certification.

If you thought you were too busy or didn’t know where to go for a First Aid course, Coast2Coast offers you training solutions at a time and place that suit you. You may complete your First Aid & CPR training course at one of our 18 locations across Ontario. If you have any questions about a training course, please do not hesitate to contact us.