BLS & First Aid for Healthcare Teams

BLS Certification, CPR & First Aid for Healthcare Providers

Clinical roles need a current Basic Life Support card; non-clinical staff need workplace First Aid. As a Canadian Red Cross Training Partner, we certify hospital, clinic, and long-term care teams to learn CPR and act quickly at the level their role actually requires, on your site or ours.

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First Aid / BLS / CPR Group Training

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Basic Life Support & First Aid for Healthcare Teams

Clinical staff need Basic Life Support (BLS), renewed annually. Non-clinical roles, front-desk staff, and administrators typically need Basic/Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED Level C instead. Every first aid course and BLS class meets CSA Standard Z1210 and is Canadian Red Cross certified, with certificates issued within 48 hours.

Clinical roles

Nurses, physicians, dentists, paramedics, and other regulated health professionals typically need a current Basic Life Support certification, renewed every 12 months to meet hospital, clinic, and regulatory-college requirements.

Non-clinical roles

Medical office administrators, receptionists, and facilities staff generally need workplace-level First Aid and CPR/AED Level C rather than BLS. Tell us your team's mix of roles and we'll confirm what each person needs.

There is no single national rule. Clinical Basic Life Support requirements come from employers and provincial regulatory colleges, while the workplace first aid duty comes from each province's regulator: the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in Ontario, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in Alberta, WorkSafeBC in British Columbia, and equivalents in every other province. We train healthcare teams across Canada and will confirm the standard for your facility.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Clinical Roles

🏥 4-hour in-class session | 👩‍⚕️ Healthcare providers | 📜 1-year certificate

Courses Offered

Basic Life Support (BLS)
Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal
Airway Management & Oxygen Therapy (add-on)

The certificate hospitals, clinics, and long-term care employers audit annually. Covers adult, child, and infant resuscitation with team-based CPR, opioid overdose response, and automated external defibrillator use. Built on high-quality chest compressions, AED use, and current resuscitation science for both pre-hospital and in-facility response. Delivered in-class only; BLS does not have a blended or online option. Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions available so a renewal doesn't cost you a shift.

1-Year Certification Initial & Renewal Canadian Red Cross Team-Based CPR

Meets hospital, clinic, and long-term care employer requirements
Hands-on practice on CPR feedback manikins (adult, child, and infant), AED trainers, never live equipment
Certificate issued within 48 hours of completion

Who is this for? Nurses, RPNs and nursing students, physicians, dentists, physiotherapists, and other regulated health professionals across Ontario. Pursuing paramedic or advanced responder work? Ask us about First Responder and EMR training.

Not sure which course you need? See Which Course Should I Take?, or private & group training for 8+.

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On-Site Group Training for Healthcare Teams

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🏢 We come to you | 👥 Savings for 8+ | 🧾 Central billing

Courses Offered

Basic Life Support (BLS)
Basic/Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED Level C
Recertification for renewing staff

Certify a mixed team of clinical and non-clinical staff at once. We deliver private training at your facility anywhere in Canada, or your team attends any of our 35+ public locations. Sessions scheduled around shifts and rotations.

On-Site or Public Group Savings 8+ Central Billing Shift-Friendly Scheduling

One invoice for the whole team, with group registration
Certificates within 48 hours, optional 24-hour fast-track
Instructors who are RNs, paramedics, and physicians who bring real-world experience to every class

Who is this for? Hospitals, clinics, long-term care homes, dental practices, and healthcare staffing agencies certifying or renewing mixed teams.

Group rates for 8+ staff Request private & group training or call 1-866-291-9121.

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Which Course Fits Your Role?

Find your role and the course healthcare teams most often need. Not sure? We will confirm the right level for your facility.

Role	Recommended course
Nurse (RN / RPN) or nursing student	Basic Life Support (BLS)
Personal Support Worker (PSW)	Basic Life Support (BLS)
Physician or dentist	Basic Life Support (BLS)
Paramedic or advanced responder	Basic Life Support (BLS)Advancing further? Ask about First Responder or EMR.
Medical office administrator or receptionist	Basic/Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED Level C
Facilities or environmental services staff	Basic/Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED Level C

Find a course near you Group training for your team

The Emergencies Healthcare Teams Actually Face

This training is built around what actually happens on shift, not generic first aid, covering the common medical emergencies healthcare teams face.

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Cardiac arrest on the unit

Team-based CPR and AED skills for the critical first minutes before a code team arrives.

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Anaphylaxis and medication reactions

Recognizing a severe allergic reaction and responding fast, including epinephrine auto-injector use.

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Workplace violence

Ontario's OHSA requires every employer to have a workplace violence program; healthcare settings carry dedicated government guidance given the elevated risk from patients, residents, and clients.

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Patient transfer injuries

Lifting and transfer injuries are common for nursing and PSW staff. We cover safe response and self-care.

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Needlestick and exposure incidents

Immediate steps for a needlestick or bodily fluid exposure while waiting on facility protocol.

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Choking and airway emergencies

Clear steps for adults, children, and infants build fast, confident response in patient care settings.

First Aid for Healthcare Providers: The Skills We Cover

Every first aid course and BLS class is built around scenario-based learning, practical hands-on skills, and real-world experience, so your team gains the essential basic life support skills to act quickly and help save more lives, both pre-hospital and in-facility. The training process follows current resuscitation science and covers the common medical emergencies at the heart of the Intermediate First Aid course.

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Patient assessment

A systematic approach to patient assessment, working within your scope of practice and institutional guidelines, with clear communication and documentation when transferring care.

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Airway and breathing

Airway management, recognizing and clearing obstructions, and shock recognition through early signs such as altered mental status and low blood pressure.

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High-quality CPR and AED use

High-quality chest compressions, team dynamics, and AED use, the gold-standard resuscitation approach that can double or triple survival chances in cardiac arrest.

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Anaphylaxis and overdose

Prompt intramuscular epinephrine for anaphylaxis, and naloxone for opioid overdoses following local protocols.

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Bleeding and burns

Severe bleeding control with direct pressure and tourniquets when necessary, plus immediate burn care by cooling the area and preventing further injury.

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Major medical emergencies

Recognizing common medical emergencies such as heart attacks (acute coronary syndromes) and strokes, essential life-saving skills for any healthcare setting.

All training meets CSA Standard Z1210 and delivers nationally recognized Canadian Red Cross certification, so essential skills stay current, practical, and consistent across Canada.

First Aid Requirements Across Canada

Every province sets its own workplace first aid rule through its own regulator, but almost all of them now point to the same national training standard, CSA Z1210, and the same kit standard, CSA Z1220. That is why a Canadian Red Cross certificate from Coast2Coast is recognized nationwide. We deliver group and on-site training anywhere in Canada.

Province	Regulator and governing rule
Ontario	Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) — Regulation 1101 under the Workplace Safety and Insurance ActRequirements scale with workers per shift and hazard rating.
Alberta	Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, Part 11 and Schedule 2Set by hazard level, workers per shift, and travel time to medical care.
British Columbia	WorkSafeBC — Part 3 of the Occupational Health and Safety RegulationSubstantially revised November 1, 2024; requires a written first aid assessment.
Quebec	CNESST — First-Aid Minimum Standards RegulationAmended February 12, 2026; applies broadly, including offices. Certificates valid up to three years.
Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety RegulationsRequirements scale with workers per shift and the nature of the work.
Manitoba	Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and its regulationsSet by worker count per shift and type of work; strong lone-worker provisions.
Nova Scotia	Occupational Health and Safety Act and Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, administered by the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI	WorkSafeNB, WorkplaceNL, and the Workers Compensation Board of PEI, each under their own provincial occupational health and safety legislation

Not sure which rule applies to your sites? Tell us where your team works and we will confirm the required certification level for each province before you book.

200,000+

students certified since 2014

99.9%

course pass rate

50+

instructors: RNs, paramedics, physicians

Top 3

Canadian Red Cross Partner, 2023 to 2025

Why Healthcare Teams Choose Coast2Coast

Built for shift work and mixed clinical/non-clinical teams.

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On your site or ours

Private training at your facility, or any of our 35+ locations across Canada.

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Simple central billing

One invoice for the whole team, with group savings for 8 or more staff.

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Certificates in 48 hours

Digital certificates issued fast, with an optional 24-hour fast-track.

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WSIB & OHS approved

Canadian Red Cross Training Partner and Heart & Stroke accredited trainer.

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Shift-friendly scheduling

Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions so a renewal doesn't cost a shift.

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Coasty study tutor

Our AI tutor answers First Aid, CPR, and BLS questions and helps staff prep.

Certify Your Team in Three Steps

Tell us your team mix

Send your headcount, roles, and preferred dates. We confirm who needs BLS and who needs First Aid.

We schedule the class

Private session at your facility or a seat in a public class, worked around shifts.

Team gets certified

Staff complete the course and receive Canadian Red Cross certificates within 48 hours.

Certifying a Whole Healthcare Team?

We come to your facility anywhere in Canada with all equipment included. Groups of 8+ save up to $40 per person, with centralized billing, group registration, and certificates for BLS or First Aid and CPR/AED Level C.

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Healthcare First Aid & BLS FAQ

Medically reviewed by Aryan Sekhavati, Director.

No. BLS is generally required for clinical roles: nurses, physicians, dentists, PSWs, and paramedics. Non-clinical staff, like administrators and facilities workers, typically need workplace First Aid and CPR/AED Level C instead. Tell us your team's roles and we'll confirm what each person needs.

Basic Life Support is valid one year, shorter than standard First Aid's three-year validity, because clinical employers and regulatory colleges require annual renewal.

BLS focuses on high-quality chest compressions and team-based CPR for cardiac and respiratory emergencies in clinical settings, renewed annually. The Intermediate First Aid course (formerly Standard First Aid) covers common medical emergencies and essential life-saving skills more broadly across any workplace, valid three years. Clinical roles need BLS; most other roles need the Intermediate First Aid course.

Yes. Nursing, paramedic, and other healthcare program students regularly complete BLS as a placement or graduation requirement. Bring your program's specific requirement and we'll confirm the right course.

No. Workplace violence and harassment programs are a separate employer obligation under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, distinct from first aid or BLS certification. Our courses cover medical emergency response; your facility's violence prevention program is a separate requirement to have in place.

No. BLS requires an in-person, hands-on skills session for team-based CPR and AED practice. A fully online certificate is not accepted by hospitals, clinics, or regulatory colleges.

Yes. Alongside BLS, we offer First Responder and EMR training in Ontario for those advancing toward paramedic or professional responder roles.

No. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are advanced, hospital-based certifications for critical care teams. Coast2Coast's BLS course is the foundational healthcare CPR certification most employers require, built on high-quality chest compressions, AED use, and current resuscitation science for pre-hospital and in-facility response.

It depends on the provider. Some CPR programs use a two-year cycle. Coast2Coast's Canadian Red Cross CPR/AED Level C is valid three years, and our Basic Life Support certification for healthcare providers is valid one year.

Private group rates depend on headcount and location, with savings for 8 or more staff. Send your team size, role mix, and preferred dates for a quote.

A BLS course teaches high-quality chest compressions, team-based CPR, ventilations, and AED use for adults, children, and infants, plus opioid overdose response. Through practical, hands-on practice, these basic life support skills follow current resuscitation science for both pre-hospital and in-facility care, so healthcare providers learn CPR to the standard employers expect.

Yes. Every first aid course and BLS class delivers nationally recognized Canadian Red Cross certification and meets CSA Standard Z1210, so your team's skills stay current and consistent across Canada.

Certify Your Healthcare Team the Right Way

Canadian Red Cross BLS and First Aid training, delivered by a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner and scheduled around your shifts. Group rates for 8+ staff.

Book Group Training Call 1-866-291-9121