This one-day Basic First Aid course in downtown Nanaimo, BC meets WorkSafeBC training requirements for first aid attendants in the workplace. Gain the knowledge and skills to respond confidently in emergencies at home or in the workplace with our Basic First Aid (formerly OFA Level 1) or equivalent course. Designed to meet WorkSafeBC standards, this course teaches practical first aid instructions for situations like cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, choking, and more. You’ll be equipped with life-saving techniques that can mean the difference between life and death.
The Basic First Aid course (formerly OFA Level 1) is recognized by WorkSafeBC as the minimum workplace first aid training requirement in BC.
WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid course – issued directly under WorkSafeBC.
Emergency First Aid with CPR C – this course is equivalent to WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid and fully accepted by WorkSafeBC for workplace requirements.
Gain the knowledge and skills to respond confidently in emergencies at home or in the workplace with our Basic First Aid (formerly OFA Level 1) course. Designed to meet WorkSafeBC standards, this course teaches practical first aid instructions for situations like cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, choking, and more. You’ll be equipped with life-saving techniques that can mean the difference between life and death.
Our Basic First Aid course covers essential topics, including:
Guided by experienced instructors, this course emphasizes hands-on first aid techniques, building muscle memory and confidence for real-world emergency situations. You’ll leave with knowledge of first aid steps that could save someone’s life.
This blended course combines:
4 hours online learning (self-paced)
4.5 hours in person (practical skills and scenarios)
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. Both options cover the same core skills and result in certification valid for 3 years. Which version is run depends on scheduling and class demand, but rest assured, your certification will meet all WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid requirements.
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.
The Basic First Aid course replaces the former OFA Level 1 program and is now aligned with updated CSA standards. This change ensures that the curriculum meets the latest requirements under WorkSafeBC regulations, providing participants with more comprehensive training to better handle medical emergencies in the workplace. The course continues to deliver the same high-quality instruction while incorporating important updates to reflect modern workplace safety needs.
For detailed information on these amendments, visit the following pages on WorkSafeBC's website:
• Preliminary OHS Guidelines for Part 3 – Occupational First Aid
• Backgrounder: Occupational first aid regulatory changes
• First aid requirements (web page)
This course includes:
Basic First Aid (OFA 1) is an 8 hour course that prepares workers to be first aid attendants in relatively low risk environments where a hospital is close by. This course is designed by Worksafe BC and focuses specifically on caring for injured coworkers. 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.
Standard First Aid is pretty well defined in Canada to mean a 2 day comprehensive 'lay rescuer' course that includes CPR training. There aren't many courses that are equivalent to Standard First Aid without that name, but Marine Basic First Aid is one example of a certification that is equivalent - this course is based on Standard First Aid but also includes a few topics specific to the marine environment.
While Red Cross Standard First Aid IS recognized by Worksafe BC as equivalent to Intermediate Occupational First Aid certification, this doesn't quite mean that they are the same. If a job requires Standard First Aid, a Worksafe BC Basic or Intermediate certification would NOT be acceptable. This is because Standard First Aid is a more comprehensive 2 day course where Worksafe BC BFA and IFA courses are less comprehensive. One other difference is that the Worksafe BC BFA course is designed by Worksafe BC and focuses specifically on caring for injured coworkers, while Standard First Aid covers a broad spectrum of contexts such as injuries that happen in the community or in the home.
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:
Nanaimo | Parksville | Qualicum Beach | Lantzville | Comox | Courtenay | Cumberland | Campbell River
Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at grouptraining@alertfirstaid.com to arrange a group course.