Welcome to Aurora Training Corp! We offer Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo a wide variety of first aid and CPR courses and supplies, including emergency first aid, standard first aid, and childcare first aid.
One of the most common questions we receive as a first aid training company is - "What course is right for me?" "What course do I need to take?" "What is the difference in the first aid and CPR courses?" Here, we will try to break down the differences so that you can see what course is the best one for you.
Government Regulation
First, we would like to let you know that CPR and first aid courses are government regulated at the provincial level. Our courses are certified through either the Canadian Red Cross or the Heart & Stroke Foundation, and have provincial approval and Alberta OHS approval for meeting workplace first aid requirements. Sometimes, an employer may ask for a course from a specific company - but we will get to that in a minute.
CPR Courses
All CPR courses with Aurora Training Corp include AED certification. These courses are either geared towards the general public, or towards persons working in a health care professional capacity.
Courses for the Public:
CPR AED level A: CPR, AED, and relief of choking for adults (Red Cross certificate)
CPR AED level B: CPR, AED, and relief of choking for children and infants (Red Cross certificate)
CPR AED level C: CPR, AED, and relief of choking for adults, children, and infants (Red Cross or Heart & Stroke Foundation certificate)
Courses for Health Care Professionals:
CPR AED level HCP: Includes level C content plus additional skills for healthcare providers: two-rescuer CPR, rescue breathing, use of a bag-valve-mask and other breathing devices, and more (Red Cross certificate). This course is usually taken by dental assistants, hygienists, and dentists, and Standard First Aid with CPR HCP is usually a prerequisite to programs such as EMR and EMT. May not be accepted by your employer if you work for Alberta Health Services.
BLS Provider (Basic Life Support): This is the Heart & Stroke Foundation course name for CPR AED level HCP. This course is usually required by Alberta Health Services for their employees, so if you are a nurse, nursing student, etc., this course is for you. This course is also a prerequisite for ACLS and PALS certification. This course also meets requirements for dental professionals.
First Aid Courses
First aid courses fall into a few categories: emergency first aid, standard first aid, and childcare first aid. All of our first aid courses include CPR/AED at a specified level.
Emergency First Aid is a basic one-day course including CPR/AED level A or C, plus first aid for wounds, burns, heart attack, stroke, asthma, anaphylaxis, and other life-threatening emergencies.
Standard First Aid is a more comprehensive two-day course including CPR/AED level C or HCP and all Emergency First Aid content, plus first aid for head & spine injuries, bone, muscle and joint injuries, sudden medical emergencies, environmental emergencies (hypothermia and heatstroke) and poisons. Now available in Blended Delivery format - 6-8 hours online plus 8 hours classroom - and yes, it is approved by Alberta OHS for a workplace Standard First Aid course.
Childcare First Aid is a two-day course targeted to childcare workers that includes CPR/AED level B and most standard first aid content, but tailored to the needs of persons working with children.
We hope this explanation of the different levels of CPR and first aid was helpful! If you need help deciding which course is right for you, please contact us. We look forward to seeing you in a Fort McMurray first aid course soon!