2009 Training Program Highlights September, 2008
It is an exciting time to be an instructor with SJA in Alberta. Once again we are leading
the country with the changes to our programs for 2009.
Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
First and foremost 2009 will see the continuation of our planned integration of Automated External Defibrillation training into our classes. Starting Jan. 1 AED training will be included into all public Emergency First Aid (EFA) and Standard First Aid (SFA) classes offered in our seven SJA training centers across the province and students who take these courses will receive full AED certification. Statistics reflect that the use of AEDs in combination with CPR increase the survival rate for a casualty suffering from cardiac arrest.
Partner providers will continue to have AED training available as an add-on option to their classes. When a partner provider is instructing an EFA without AED they will continue to use the current modules. In order to provide the best training available for all First Aid situations, we encourage our partner providers to follow our example and offer their clients AED training too.
In order to include the AED section into our current time lines some adjustments have been made:
• The AED module will be on Day 1 after Adult CPR
• The Wound Care module will be moved to Day 2
A concern that many instructors had previously was the time allotted for ESM and the inclusion of two-rescuer CPR on Day 1 of the SFA which made it difficult to combine an EFA and SFA. In order to alleviate both concerns, section 13: Head, Spinal and Pelvic Injuries will be moved to Day 1 after ESM. It will now be acceptable for instructors to demonstrate the HAINES recovery position and care of a casualty with suspected head and neck injuries during the Spinal section rather than in ESM. This will provide instructors with less content to cover in ESM.
As a result of the change for Head and Spinal injuries, two-rescuer CPR will now move to Day 2 after the Child Resuscitation section. Although, two-rescuer CPR has always been associated with Adult CPR, it is a skill that can be applied to all levels of resuscitation. This shift also means that the EFA and Day 1 of the SFA will have the exact same content and therefore will make combining these classes more effective.
New provincial course time lines for courses offered in the SJA centres will be provided and can be utilized by anyone instructing an EFA or SFA with AED.
Advanced First Aid (AFA) and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
Also for 2009 is a change to our Advanced First Aid/EMR program. Workplace Health & Safety in Alberta has made changes to the scope of practice for Advanced First Aiders in the workplace. As a result of these changes it is no longer feasible for us to run a combined AFA/EMR program. As of January 2009 the AFA and EMR will be split into two separate programs.
The EMR will remain with the current pre-requisites and instructor qualifications.
The AFA program will be a two week program with no pre-course, homework or separate exam days. The pre-requisite to instruct this new program will be current ICP status and AFA certification. Instructor workshops for the AFA program will be held in the New Year. The development of the AFA program will allow more instructors access to teach the Advanced level of training.
We have also developed a three-day AFA recertification program and an EMR challenge program that will allow anyone with EMR equivalent training to receive an EMR training card in order to apply to the Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP) for provincial certification as an EMR.
At the Alberta Council we are committed to providing the best and most up-to-date practices in First Aid training. Any questions regarding the program changes can be sent to your local SJA Program/Instructor Coordinator.