This one-day Basic First Aid course in Duncan, BC meets WorkSafeBC training requirements for first aid attendants in the workplace.
WorkSafeBC updated their program in the fall of 2024 (previously Occupational First Aid Level 1, now called Basic First Aid) and recognizes the Canadian Red Cross Emergency First Aid program as an equivalent course. Both meet WorkSafeBC requirements for a basic first aid attendant in the workplace in British Columbia.
Successful course participants will receive either a WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid certificate or a Canadian Red Cross Emergency First Aid with CPR/AED Level A (CSA Z1210-17 - Basic) certification.
Gain essential knowledge of Basic First Aid techniques with our Basic First Aid equivalent course. Designed to meet WorkSafeBC standards, this course teaches participants to respond to life-threatening situations at work, including cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, choking, and spinal injuries - skills that can save a life before EMS arrives.
Our courses are let by experienced and certified instructors and emphasize hands-on practice and real-world scenarios. You'll build muscle memory performing CPR and other first aid techniques like stopping bleeding - knowledge that could make a real difference in a medical emergency.
This course includes:
To recertify, you must re-take the full course - there is no shorter recertification course available. Taking the full course also ensures that you're up-to-date on latest standards and first aid best practices.
Occupational First Aid Level 1 (OFA 1) is a course that focuses on basic first aid skills and knowledge that are essential for handling life threatening emergencies, as well as handling more common minor injuries that can happen in the workplace. Topics include: Scene Assessment, Activating the Worksite Emergency Plan, Supporting Head and Neck, Opening Airway, Assessing for Breathing, Clearing Obstructed Airway. performing CPR with AED, Recognizing Shock, Controlling Bleeding, Roles and Responsibilities of the OFA, and more.
OFA Level 1 (or equivalent) certification allows you to be scheduled as the active first aid attendant on a worksite that requires a Level 1 First Aid Attendant. Specifics on first aid requirements are outlined by Worksafe BC using ‘Schedule 3a’, but without getting into details here, Level 1 first aid attendants are generally required in situations where a worksite is within 20 minutes of a hospital, and there is low to medium risk of injury for a smaller number of workers.
Worksafe BC OFA Level 1 is a one day course meant to train a First Aid attendant in the basic skills necessary to provide first aid in low-risk environments, or for a smaller number of workers. Level 2 however is a 5 day intensive course geared toward training First Aid attendants who might be responsible for a large number of workers and more dangerous job sites. OFA Level 2 also involves much more rigorous practical skills testing to make sure that everyone who is certified has demonstrated that they are ready to put their first aid skills into action when a real emergency happens on the job.
This question is complicated since there are a number of different types of first aid courses. For Occupational First Aid, there are 3 levels of first aid, simply named Basic First Aid, Intermediate First Aid, and Advanced First Aid. If you work in a marine environment and are required by Transport Canada to be certified in first aid, then there is Marine Basic First Aid and Marine Advanced First Aid. For first aid for those responsible for people in the community there is Emergency First Aid and Standard First Aid. If you are caring specifically for children, Emergency Childcare First Aid is probably the best fit. If you are interested in first for the outdoors or remote situations (or are required to take first aid as an outdoor guide) then there is the 20 hour Remote First Aid, or more advanced 40 hour Wilderness First Aid. There is also an 80 hour Wilderness First Responder course for professional responders responding to remote emergencies. For the professional responders there is also the 48 hour First Responder course and the more advanced 120 Hour Emergency Medical Responder.
Basic First Aid - CSA is an 8 hour course aimed at meeting the Canadian Standard for preparing workers to be first aid attendants in relatively low risk environments where a hospital is close by. Participants will learn basic first aid skills and knowledge that are essential for handling life threatening emergencies, as well as handling more common minor injuries that can happen in the workplace. Red Cross Emergency First Aid, and Red Cross Standard First Aid are now officially recognized by Worksafe BC as equivalent to Basic First Aid, formerly known as OFA 1.
Basic First Aid is a one day course meant to train a First Aid attendant in the basic skills necessary to provide first aid in low-risk environments, or for a smaller number of workers. Intermediate First Aid is a 2 day course geared toward training First Aid attendants who might be responsible for a larger number of workers or more dangerous job sites.
The CSA Basic First Aid (OFA 1 Equivalent) course includes the following materials:
WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid Participant Guide (hard copy)
OR
If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Basic First Aid (Emergency/OFA 1) course, we offer this course in the following locations:
Duncan | Lake Cowichan | Cowichan Bay | Cowichan Station | Maple Bay | Crofton | Chemainus | Cobble Hill | Shawinigan Lake | Mill Bay | Ladysmith
Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at grouptraining@alertfirstaid.com to arrange a group course.