First Aid training

[impure]

I got a call yesterday from a construction company that i had applied for an entry level job at. they asked me about my first aid experience and i told them that the St. Johns Ambulance i had was really not much, it was done in my grade 10 CAPP class. he then proceeded to ask me if i'd be willing to do a Level 3 First Aid course, if they hired me. he said it's quite expensive but they would pay for everything.

does anyone have experience with this course or courses?
any onsite first aid attendants here?

[project.one]

What about the course?
First aid is always something everyone should have. If they are willing to pay for the course you should jump on that one!

[KrisisID]

i am, i just renewed my level three last year.

[impure]

where do they teach courses like that?
how long is it?
what does the course teach?

i'm all over this opportunity of course.
i'll know more after monday, but i'd be a rare occasion that i turn down a company paying for schooling for me that would benefit me in the long run.

[tiedye]

It's generally a two week course. About 8 hours a day. Level 3 was intense but it's interesting so I found it easy in the end. If you enjoy learning and want to build upon your life skills, take it. Especially if it is free. The course up here runs around $2000; I really wish there had been someone willing to pay for mine.

The course will essentially train you in all manners of rescue up to, but not including, invasive procedures. You'll learn everything from applying traction to a broken bone, to dealing with high-risk trauma patients, to the smallest of injuries.

[project.one]

Where they teach it and how long they teach it for is totally based on who is teaching the course and such. Sometimes if people are trying to learn after normal work hours the course can be (for example) 2 hours every second day for a little while. Or if some people will want to do it as fast as they can, and might do only a few 5 hour days or something along that line.

If you are doing the Occupational First Aid Level 3 course, it is a total of 70 Hours. (Some places will do 80 hours depending on how in depth they want to go into the course materials).
The OFA3 course is based on;

Triage patients according to the Rapid Transport Cat. model
Preform 2 Operator COP and CPR during transportation
Stabilize Protruding eye injuries
Provide Treatments for penetrating chest injuries
Use tourniquets appropriately
Immobilize lower limb fractures and dislocations
Manage life threatening injuries
Rule out spinal injuries by conducting range of motion tests
Preform multi-person lifts for transport

Thats what it says in my instructors manual. Different locations/instructors will have different means of this, but the standards are all the same.

[ebbomega]

Welcome to SJA Canada

[stephen_c]

this is what you're lookin for

Trauma Tech (gastown)

$790
70 hrs - 2 weeks full-time

then a written and practical exam at wcb richmond.

[impure]

thanks for all the info!
it seems like if they back up what they say, i might have a neat opportunity.

is there prior courses that must be taken before you can enroll in the 3rd level?

[ebbomega]

Nope. The level just means how much training you receive, not how many different classes you've taken. Kinda like a class 4 vs. class 5 license.

[impure]

i see i see.
this is sounding better and better.

[Goodfellow]

first aid is a pretty fun class.. it's pretty jam packed so you have to always pay attention but they make it pretty interesting/hands on.

I need to upgrade to level 3 from level 2, I wonder what I'll end up having to do? the whole thing?

[impure]

would i get to practice on dead people or living people?
both have an odd appeal.

[Goodfellow]

you get to practice on dolls lol..... and then you go into partners and practice making splints and bandaging on eachother.

[Rayeine]

good on ya, sounds like a good opportunity if they are willing to pay..that's great.
I've been interested in this myself.
Apparently there's a really good course offered at the Justice Institute in New West..but that's definatley for Paramedic training.

[impure]

Originally Posted by Goodfellow

you get to practice on dolls lol..... and then you go into partners and practice making splints and bandaging on eachother.

do you think they would find me a couple firemen to practice on?