{"id":1051,"date":"2025-08-07T14:42:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T21:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alertfirstaid.com\/blog\/?p=1051"},"modified":"2025-08-13T10:02:31","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T17:02:31","slug":"new-first-aid-requirements-what-bc-schools-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alertfirstaid.com\/blog\/new-first-aid-requirements-what-bc-schools-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"New First Aid Requirements: What BC Schools Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As of July 1, 2025, all public secondary schools in British Columbia are required to provide CPR and AED training<\/strong> to Grade 10 students. This new mandate is part of the revised Physical and Health Education (PHE 10) curriculum and is a significant step toward improving emergency preparedness in school communities. Additionally, all secondary schools will be required to have AEDs and Naloxone on site by Dec 31, 2025. The same will be coming for middle schools and elementary schools but they have up until September 8, 2026 to comply with the AED and Naloxone requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the rollout of this requirement comes with many questions \u2014 especially for educators and administrators already juggling limited budgets and staff capacity. From clarifying what\u2019s mandatory to figuring out how to deliver training effectively, schools across the province are now facing urgent decisions about compliance, equipment, and instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s everything BC schools need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s Required Under the New Policy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The new curriculum update makes it mandatory for all Grade 10 students to receive basic CPR and AED training<\/strong> as part of their PHE 10 classes. This means that school staff \u2014 most often physical education teachers \u2014 will be responsible for delivering the training during regularly scheduled gym periods. For schools that want a less hands on approach, it is possibly to bring in external instructors too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth noting that students are not required to earn a certification card<\/strong> through a recognized provider. The goal is to ensure students understand and can perform basic lifesaving skills rather than meet the formal requirements of a certified course. That said, the Ministry has left the door open for school districts to offer additional training or certification where resources and community interest allow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This flexibility is helpful \u2014 but it also creates a patchwork of approaches. Some schools will prefer to keep it simple and in-house, while others may seek professional instructor support or look to elevate the training with optional certification for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. All Grade 10 students must receive CPR and AED training<\/strong>\n