Covid-19 Measures

Our Training Partners are currently working with workplace health and safety regulators to offer support to those who have certifications that will expire in the next months.

We have re-evaluated our position to accommodate the ongoing COVID-19 situation and the impact on in-person training. Participant-level certificate holders with certifications that expire between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, can attend a recertification course but they need to complete their recertification by January 31, 2021. This extended window will allow those with expired certifications the opportunity to recertify as facilities reopen and training resumes.

Online Course Options

The Canadian Red Cross offers a number of online course options, which can be used to encourage training during this time. Participants looking to take a blended first aid course or first aid re-certification course in the future can take the time now to complete the online component.

To support this option, we are offering the online component of our Standard First Aid, Emergency First Aid, and CPR courses as separate stand-alone courses. These are normally offered as part of our blended delivery programs.

The online component will issue a confirmation of completion certificate which is valid for 90 days. Completion of this online training will also appear in the user’s profile and can be verified by their employer.

Participants will be required to complete the in-person training component within 90 days of completing the online component, after which they will be issued three-year certification. With many individuals postponing in-person training, this will provide a solution to continue supporting education in the short term.

In July, we shared our position allowing those who hold participant-level First Aid certification with an expiry date after March 1, 2020, to attend a recertification course.

Reopening of in-person training is led and directed by provincial/territorial health authorities. These health authorities outline requirements such as sanitization protocols, capacity limitations, etc. Full details can be accessed through your local health authority’s reopening plan. As a training organization Canadian Red Cross is committed to supporting the health and safety of our Training Partners, Instructors, and course participants. To support our Training Partners, we have created guidelines for maintaining a healthy and safe classroom environment during in-person training: My Red Cross (myrc.redross.ca) > News > COVID-19 > First Aid and Swimming & Water Safety Safe Classroom (in-person) Training COVID-19 Protocols.

How Training Partners can support First Aid participants

Our shared goal is for First Aid participants returning to the classroom to be set up for a successful outcome. Encourage all participants registering for a recertification course to review materials prior to attending the course to help ensure they can successfully complete certification requirements. Some options to help participants prepare include:

Encourage participants to visit My Red Cross (redcross.ca) > My Profile > My Digital Books > First Aid and CPR Manuals to access the First Aid & CPR Manual or the CPR Manual.
Provide participants with the link to the Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR: ca/comprehensivefa.
Sell print copies of the First Aid & CPR Manual or CPR Manual to participants to review in advance of training.
Promote the online component of our blended program as another strategy for participants to improve their knowledge in addition to taking the in-person recertification.
Encourage participants to review the Canadian Red Cross First Aid App.

Psychological First Aid

In the current environment, many individuals are experiencing higher levels of stress than usual. Our two online Psychological First Aid Courses, Self-Care and Caring for Others, might offer some support for your employees or customers.

Psychological First Aid teaches how to recognize signs of stress, loss, and grief in yourself and others, and how to help. Learners come away with coping strategies to prevent, identify, and deal with stressful events, a better understanding of the support available to them, and knowledge on how to access specialized support as needed. The Psychological First Aid – Self-Care course also helps individuals build their own self-care plans to manage their mental wellness.

Be kind be calm & stay safe.