Which First Aid Course is the Best?

If someone has suddenly taken ill or injured, first aid training provides you with the knowledge and confidence to help save their lives. Your immediate response can help to stabilize the person’s condition and prevent future problems with their health.

There are two levels of First Aid and CPR/AED training that can give you these important life-saving skills. These include: Emergency First Aid and Standard First Aid. Both First Aid courses include CPR/AED training.

What are the differences between the certificates, and which First Aid course is the best?

Differences in Duration

First aid courses are designed to meet various needs. If you are required to do one for your workplace, you must make sure to opt for a course that meets the specific requirements.

An Emergency First Aid Course is a comprehensive, but quick introduction to first aid. The course takes 8 hours to complete and is completed in just one day. During the 8 hours, you are taught how to deal with basic first aid required in various emergencies.

If you want to learn far more and to get additional practice on how to perform the various treatments, then a Standard First Aid Course is the next option. The course is run over 2 days and takes 16 hours to complete, giving you the confidence required to perform the new skills you have learned.

How Does the Content of the Two Courses Vary?

A first aid course aims to prepare you to deal with various emergencies. These are the skills you can expect to learn in an Emergency First Aid Course and Standard First Aid Course:

Emergency First Aid Course Skills

• Lowering infection risk
• Performing the check, call, and care routine
• Correct use of the recovery position
• Dealing with shock
• Applying CPR/AED and treating choking in adults, children, and infants
• Medication assistance
• Helping with angina or heart attack
• Assisting in a stroke
• Dealing with internal and external bleeding
• Providing wound care

Standard First Aid Course

• Lowering infection risk
• Performing the check, call, and care routine
• Correct use of the recovery position
• Dealing with shock
• Applying CPR/AED and treating choking in adults, children, and infants
• Medication assistance
• Helping with angina or heart attack
• Assisting in a stroke
• Dealing with internal and external bleeding
• Providing wound care
• Assisting with head and spinal injuries
• Caring for those with bone, muscle, and joint injuries
• Medical and environmental emergencies
• Various forms of poisoning

Different Course Delivery Methods

Today, there are various ways to take a first aid course that might prove helpful to saving the life of someone. At Coast2Coast, we understand that for many people the commute to one of our courses can be difficult. We also understand that others prefer to have first-hand knowledge and hands-on practice.

This led us to create three types of first aid and CPR courses, allowing you to choose the method that works best for you.

These include:

• All Online First Aid & CPR where you can save money and commute time. The whole course is completed online from the device of your choice. Please note that this training will not provide you with a full WSIB approved certificate. You must upgrade your training within 90 days and attend an in-class session to receive an official certificate.
• All In-Class First Aid & CPR is for those wanting hands-on training from our instructors who are trained by the Canadian Red Cross. You also get to practice using our modern equipment.
• Online Blended First Aid & CPR is the ideal course if you want to combine the convenience of online and in-class training. This is our most popular course option as it provides flexibility!

Best First Aid Course

Choosing the best course of the two is not too difficult. A quick comparison of the content of the two courses makes it obvious that a person with Standard First Aid knowledge can help in a wider range of emergencies involving serious injuries, life-threatening emergencies, and illnesses. Standard First Aid Training is required by most provincial bodies and workplaces and is always the course we recommend to students.

Contact us today to register for a First Aid & CPR/AED training course. We can’t wait to see you!