Home » Occupational First Aid Level One (OFA-1) Courses in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley

Why Priority Care?
  • All courses offer 3 year certification from the Canadian Red Cross, and are recognized by various levels of government, licensing boards, and regulatory bodies.


  • Our instructors are accredited professionals, who have years of field experience providing care to real patients.


  • Priority Care uses modern teaching methodologies, creating a relaxing classroom environment that is fun to learn in.


  • Priority Care uses clean, new equipment including multimedia presentations, manikins, AED trainers, and first aid supplies.


  • Priority Care offers private courses that meet the needs of our clients. We can come to you. Anytime. Anywhere.
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • Preparing to respond (Good Samaritan Act, prevention of disease transmission, use of barrier devices)
  • The EMS system
  • Patient assessment (check, call, care)
  • Airway emergencies - management of choking emergencies
  • Artificial respiration for respiratory arrest (Health Care Providers only)
  • Circulation emergencies (angina, heart attack, stroke)
  • Cardiac arrest management - One Rescuer CPR & AED
  • Cardiac arrest management - Two Rescuer CPR (Health Care Providers only)
  • Use of the Bag Valve Mask (Health Care Providers only)
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • Preparing to respond (Good Samaritan Act, prevention of disease transmission, first aid kits)
  • The EMS system
  • Patient assessment (check, call, care)
  • Airway emergencies (choking in babies, children, adults)
  • Breathing & Circulation emergencies (asthma, anaphylaxis, croup, epiglottitis, SIDS, deadly bleeding, respiratory & cardiac arrest)
  • Cardiac arrest management - CPR & AED (baby, child, adult)
  • Head & spine injuries (including shaken baby syndrome)
  • Fractures & sprains
  • Wound care
  • Sudden medical emergencies (fainting, diabetes, seizures)
  • Environmental emergencies & Poisons
  • Recognition & reporting of suspected child abuse
  • Child safety
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • Preparing to respond (Good Samaritan Act, prevention of disease transmission, first aid kits)
  • The EMS system
  • Patient assessment (check, call, care)
  • Airway emergencies (choking in babies, children, adults)
  • Breathing emergencies (asthma, anaphylaxis, hyperventilation, respiratory distress, respiratory arrest)
  • Circulation emergencies (angina, heart attack, stroke, deadly bleeding, shock, cardiac arrest)
  • Cardiac arrest management - CPR & AED (baby, child, adult)
  • Wound care
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • Preparing to respond (Good Samaritan Act, prevention of disease transmission, first aid kits)
  • The EMS system
  • Patient assessment (check, call, care)
  • Airway emergencies (choking in babies, children, adults)
  • Breathing emergencies (asthma, anaphylaxis, hyperventilation, respiratory distress, respiratory arrest)
  • Circulation emergencies (angina, heart attack, stroke, deadly bleeding, shock, cardiac arrest)
  • Cardiac arrest management - CPR & AED (baby, child, adult)
  • Head & spine injuries
  • Fractures & sprains
  • Wound care
  • Sudden medical emergencies (fainting, diabetes, seizures, childbirth)
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Poisons
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • Preparing to respond (workplace first aid policy, prevention of disease transmission)
  • Patient assessment (c-spine control and check, call, care)
  • Soft tissue injuries (minor wound care, burns, back injuries, eye injuries, poisons, OS&H paperwork & MSDS)
  • Airway emergencies (choking in adults)
  • Breathing emergencies (assisted ventilations, artificial respirations, asthma, anaphylaxis)
  • Circulation emergencies (shock, deadly bleeding, chest pain management, CPR)
  • Sudden medical conditions (fainting, diabetes, seizures, strokes)
What will I learn?
  • The Professional Responder
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Prevention of Disease Transmission
  • Managing the Emergency Scene
  • Patient Assessment (primary and secondary survey, including blood pressure assessment)
  • Airway & Ventilation (including the use of oral airways, suction, oxygen therapy, pocket and bag valve masks)
  • Respiratory Emergencies (including assisting with patient medications for asthma and anaphylaxis)
  • Circulation Emergencies (including care of the chest pain patient, assisting with patient medications for chest pain, CPR and AED use)
  • Shock & Bleeding (including tourniquet application)
  • Head & spine injuries (including spinal rolls, helmet removal, hard collar application and spinal immobilization)
  • Chest, Abdominal, and Pelvic Injuries
  • Fractures & sprains
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • Sudden Medical Emergencies (including managing the diabetic patient)
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Poisons
  • Special Populations
  • Childbirth
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Reaching & Moving People
  • Multiple Casualty Incidents
What will I learn?
  • The Professional Emergency Medical Responder
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Prevention of Disease Transmission
  • Managing the Emergency Scene
  • Pharmacology (including the administration of Entonox for pain management)
  • Patient Assessment (primary and secondary survey, including blood pressure assessment, pulse oximetry (SPO2 monitoring), and chest auscultation)
  • Airway & Ventilation (including the use of oral airways, nasal airways, suction, oxygen therapy, pocket and bag valve masks)
  • Respiratory Emergencies (Asthma, COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, CHF. Also included is assisting with patient medications for asthma/COPD and anaphylaxis)
  • Circulation Emergencies (including care of the angina and heart attack chest pain patient, assisting with patient medications (nitroglycerin and ASA) for chest pain, care of the stroke patient, and CPR and AED use)
  • Shock & Bleeding (including tourniquet application)
  • Head & spine injuries (including spinal grips, spinal rolls, helmet removal, hard collar application, use of the spine board, clamshell, and KED for spinal immobilization)
  • Chest, Abdominal, and Pelvic Injuries
  • Fractures & sprains (including use of the Sager traction splint)
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • Sudden Medical Emergencies (fainting, seizures, and diabetes. Included is the use of a glucometer and oral glucose for managing the hypoglycemic diabetic patient)
  • Environmental emergencies (heat and cold emergencies)
  • Poisons
  • Special Populations
  • Childbirth
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Reaching & Moving People (including an ambulance orientation and use of common patient movement devices such as stretchers and stairchairs
  • Multiple Casualty Incidents
What will I learn?
  • The Red Cross
  • ILCOR and guideline development
  • Basic Life Support skills
  • Adult & child education theory (how people learn)
  • Learning styles & the domains of learning
  • Instructional techniques (how to teach))
  • Effective use of instructional equipment
  • Providing effective feedback
  • Assessment & evaluation of skills & knowledge
  • Lesson planning
  • Classroom management skills
  • Managing difficult student behaviours
  • Cleaning & care of instructional equipment
  • Organizing first aid & CPR/AED courses
Upcoming Courses:
Upcoming Courses:
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31
First Responder: January 27-31


Occupational First Aid Level One (OFA-1) Courses in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley

workersDoingCPR

Are you interested in taking an Occupational First Aid level one (OFA-1) course?

The Red Cross Workplace Emergency First Aid course is recognized by WorkSafe BC (WCB) as equivalent to their Occupational First Aid level 1 course. If your workplace requires an Occupational First Aid level 1 attendant this course fulfills that requirement.

You can see the Workplace Emergency First Aid certificate on WorkSafe BC’s approved list of courses here:

Workplace Emergency First Aid approval

Canadian Red Cross Workplace Emergency First Aid is an 8 hour course that can be taught over 1 full day, or during 2 evening sessions. Group and private courses can be scheduled flexibly to meet the needs of the client.

CPR-A is included in this course, providing certification in CPR and basic life support skills for adults. A complete description of course content is listed to the right.

Successful completion of the Workplace Emergency First Aid course is based on 100% attendance, ongoing skills evaluation throughout the course, and a 75% or better mark on a knowledge examination.

The Workplace Emergency First Aid course costs $90 per participant, which includes all taxes and a full colour manual.

Canadian Red Cross Workplace Emergency First Aid certification is valid for 3 years, and is recognized in BC workplaces by WorkSafe BC (WCB) as equivalent to the Occupation First Aid level one (OFA 1) course.

All of our First Aid, CPR and AED courses follow the latest standards (2010 / 2011) put out by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC).

 

Who is our Occupational First Aid Level One (OFA-1 Equivalent) course appropriate for?

  • People who are required to have Occupational First Aid level one (OFA-1) certificate by WorkSafe BC
  • People applying to work for BC provincial corrections

 

How to register for a Workplace Occupational First Aid Level One Course?

Our Occupational First Aid courses are currently offered on a group course basis only, and are available to groups of 8 or more throughout the Greater Vancouver area (Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Langley, Cloverdale, Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Richmond, North Vancouver, West Vancouver) and the Fraser Valley (Mission, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Chilliwack).

To book an Occupational First Aid course for a group of 8 or more please CONTACT US.

Testimonials:

“For the last 10 years Ian has taught courses for our SAR team in First Aid, Medical First Responder, ITLS, and many other medical topics.

Ian is a gifted teacher who brings his many years of experience as a paramedic into the classroom and who delivers content in a fun and very relatable way. Our members return from his courses with new found knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm, and a deep appreciation of their role in patient care.

On top of that, Ian has been extremely supportive of our team. First Aid is a key skill for all SAR members. We are lucky to have Ian. His training adds great value to our organization and to our community.”

Erica
Training Officer
Search and Rescue Team

 

“I want to commend you and your team of Instructors for the outstanding courses I attended at Priority Care First Aid. As a retired Paramedic returning to the practice of Paramedicine part time, coupled with being a volunteer firefighter and first responder, I attended both the First Responder and Emergency Medical Responder programs put on by Priority Care First Aid and I am completely satisfied with the training and hands on experience that I have received. Ian and his team bring decades of real life experience into the classroom, relating course content to real world emergency situations, which further aids in bridging course content to actual events where one may find themselves assisting the injured or ill. As a Deputy Chief of the local fire department in the Fraser Valley Regional District, I was so impressed with Ian and his group that I have arranged to have the fire department firefighters and first responders attend a First Responder program with Priority Care First Aid.

I highly recommend Ian and his team at Priority Care First Aid.”

Ken
Fire Department Deputy Chief
BCEHS Paramedic

 

“I have been a member of Search and Rescue for over 20 years, and have taken first aid courses since my teens. There is something special about learning and training with Priority Care First Aid.

Ian is effortlessly able to keep you engaged throughout the program with his charisma, stories and experience. Even with the most extreme scenarios we throw at him, his answers are clear, calm, and thoughtful… giving you confidence that you can respond correctly. This wisdom is then bolstered in the practical exercises securing your technical proficiency.

Ian creates a memorable and dynamic learning environment. You leave his skilled training knowing that when you are called upon to help someone you can deliver quality accurate care.”

Carla
SAR Team Member

 

“Ian attended our office in December, 2019.

Ian provided exceptional service to 6 of us who took his First Aid Instructor Course.
Ian’s personality, professionalism, limitless knowledge and teaching skills were at the forefront of a perfect week of learning.

Thank you Ian for your support before, during and after the course.”

Jason
RCMP Training Section

 

“Hi Ian,

I just wanted to thank you for today’s workshop and practical session. Your class ranks as one of the best (if not the best) first aid training sessions I’ve done since starting this stuff in the early eighties. Your knowledge and ease with which you offer it is quite remarkable.

As a retired classroom teacher, I often have an extremely difficult time being “presented to”, but today was definitely an exception. Thanks again, and I hope our paths cross again.”

James
SAR Team Member