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Should I upgrade my First Responder to EMR?
This is one of the most frequent questions our clients ask us these days, and our answer is almost always a resounding yes!
A little bit of background…
In British Columbia the First Responder program was started almost 30 years ago, with the goal of providing consistent medical training to fire department first responders who care for patients while ambulance paramedics are en route to the call. Over the years the program has changed here and there, but it still focuses on providing high quality patient care by teaching the following things:
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The assessment and management of an emergency scene.
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The identification and treatment of life threatening injuries in the primary survey.
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Airway management skills needed to clear and maintain a patient’s airway; including manual manoeuvres, suctioning, foreign body removal techniques, and the use of basic adjuncts like oral airways (OPAs).
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The assessment and management of a patient’s respiratory system, including the application of oxygen as needed and supporting a patient’s ventilations with a bag valve mask when appropriate.
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The assessment and management of a patient’s circulation, including the application of CPR and the use of an AED as needed.
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Hemmorhage control skills, including the use of proper pressure and/or the rapid application of a tourniquet.
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Patient positioning strategies.
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An ongoing patient assessment via the secondary survey, including basic history taking, vital sign assessment, and the performance of a detailed physical exam.
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Basic first aid skills for things like burns, minor wounds, fractures, etc.
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Proper communication with ambulance paramedics when they arrive on scene to assume care of the patient (the “hand off report”).
The First Responder program is still used by the overwhelming majority of fire departments in BC, as well as by other emergency response groups. We have worked with thousands of first responders over the years, and continue to be strong supporters of this program.
How does EMR differ?
Emergency Medical Responders are the first level of provider within the national scope of practice that are trained to assess a patient on scene, provide care in a more enhanced fashion than first responders can, package the patient appropriately for transport, continue assessing and treating the patient in the back of the ambulance while en route to the receiving facility (ie, the hospital) and, finally, to provide a detailed hand off report to the nursing staff at a receiving facility (ie, the hospital).
To go back to our original question then:
Why should I upgrade to Emergency Medical Responder?
The obvious answer is that EMR allows you to provide a higher level of care to your patient. This is primarily through enhanced assessment skills and a better understanding of the pathophysiology that is at play when a patient is injured, but EMR also adds several new treatment options to a first responder’s toolkit.
In the FR to EMR bridge course you will learn:
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Enhanced patient assessment skills, including pulse oximetry (which is still not taught in all FR courses), blood pressure assessment (which is also still not taught in all FR courses), chest auscultation (listening to the lungs with a stethoscope), blood sugar assessment with a glucometer, etc.
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Enhanced airway management skills through the use of new tools, such as nasal airways.
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Basic medical protocols for the safe administration of drugs like Nitro, ASA, Entonox, Glucose, etc.
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New treatment options for injuries, such as pelvic binding, lower limb splinting, traction splinting, etc.
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IV maintenance skills, designed to allow the EMR to assist paramedics more effectively on scene.
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Enhanced education in areas such as pharmacology, pediatrics, obstetrics, etc.
In short, the EMR bridge course “fills the gaps” if you will, both cognitively and through providing the first responder with new treatment skills.
From a career training perspective, many fire departments are now moving to the Emergency Medical Responder (which is excellent), and EMR is also a pre-requisite for those looking to become paramedics. EMR is a valuable certification to have on any resume or anybody looking to enter the safety or EMS professions.
How do I upgrade my FR to EMR?
At Priority Care First Aid we offer the First Responder to EMR bridge course in a six day format, both in our classroom in Langley and throughout the lower mainland in group course settings. Our face to face education is supported by detailed reading lists and online practice exams, which allow students to test their progress during a course.
To learn more about the First Responder to EMR Bridging course click HERE.
And, to view upcoming course dates, you can click HERE.
We hope that you found this article helpful!
Best wishes,
The Priority Care First Aid Team
First Responder or First Responder Level 3?
I have heard so many different names applied to the First Responder Course. What is the difference between an FR, a First Responder, an FR 1, FR 2, FR 3, First Responder level 1, First Responder Level 2, First Responder Level 3, First Responder Level I, First Responder Level II, First Responder Level III? I have heard of First Responder Level 3 with Spinal and AED endorsements. What is the First Responder Provider Course, or the Canadian Red Cross First Responder Course?
It can be very confusing, can’t it?
The First Responder program in British Columbia started in 1989, to provide a basic level of professional medical care to pre-hospital care patients until the BC Ambulance Service paramedics arrived.
Initially this program provided 3 levels of First Responder. First Responder Level 1 was a one day course, First Responder Level 2 was a two day course, and First Responder Level 3 was a four day course. Two endorsements were later added: a 16 hour Spinal Management endorsement, and a 4 hour AED endorsement.
Over the last few years there has been a movement to simply have one comprehensive level of First Responder care that combines all of these levels. Certain training agencies have named this combined level First Responder Provider.
At Priority Care First Aid we offer the Canadian Red Cross First Responder Course. This comprehensive course exceeds the content of the older British Columbia First Responder Level III (3) with Spinal and AED endorsements, and is the course that the vast majority of fire departments in British Columbia now use as their program of choice. When you complete this course with Priority Care First Aid, which includes your practical provincial licensing exams, you will be more than ready to provide high quality First Responder care!
To learn more about this course click HERE.
And, to view upcoming course dates you can click HERE.
Occupational First Aid Level 3 versus First Responder
I am an Occupational First Aid Level 3 (OFA-3) ticket holder. What is the difference between the Red Cross First Responder course and the Occupational First Aid (OFA) courses?
The WorkSafe BC Occupational First Aid program was designed specifically to focus on the needs of injured workers. The vast majority of the course focuses on assessing and managing traumatic injuries in the workplace, and the training is tailored to that environment. An example of this is the delegation of tasks to others on the accident scene. Because a workplace typically only has one trained Occupational First Aid attendant students are taught that all people assisting on the call are untrained. This is a realistic assumption in the workplace, but one that impacts how the patient management occurs. The Occupational First Aid courses also do not include specific training on pediatric emergencies, because workers are usually adults.
The Red Cross First Responder course was designed to train professional responders working in a wide variety of environments, including working within the 911 system, to respond to emergencies of all natures.
Because of this the course focuses on a wide range of medical and traumatic emergencies, including pediatrics, childbirth, etc. First Responders are taught to work in teams to provide optimal care. The patient assessment model is flexible, to reflect the realities of calls that occur in ever changing environments.
To learn more about the First Responder program click HERE.
And, to view upcoming course dates you can click HERE.
Who teaches the Red Cross First Aid Instructor Courses?
I am interested in taking a Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor Course, and was wondering who the instructor would be?
Your Red Cross First Aid Instructor, First Aid Instructor Transfer, or First Aid Instructor Recertification course will be taught either by a Master Instructor Trainer, or an Instructor Trainer.
Instructor trainers are veteran Red Cross first aid instructors, who have taken additional training with the Red Cross to teach instructor schools (where they learned how to impart best practices for adult education). Master instructor trainers are very experienced ITs who act in a leadership role within the Canadian Red Cross First Aid program.
The Canadian Red Cross works on a third party delivery model, meaning that Training Providers certified by the Red Cross offer training on behalf of the Red Cross. At Priority Care First Aid your instructor development course will be taught by a Master Instructor Trainer.
What can I do to be completely prepared for a Red Cross First Aid and CPR Instructor Course?
I am booked for an upcoming Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR/AED Instructor Course. I want to be completely prepared. Do you have any advice?
This is an excellent question. Here are some of our thoughts:
1) Pick up your course materials as soon as you can. The more time you have to familiarize yourself with these materials the better!
2) The Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR / AED Instructor course is about how to teach. The focus is on adult education and the effective delivery of first aid courses. There is an expectation that you will enter the instructor course with strong first aid and CPR skills. All of the skills are clearly depicted in both of the student textbooks (the CPR/AED Manual and the First Aid & CPR Manual). There are also key points in your instructor guide, as well as video based demonstrations on the multi media presentation. Practice hard to ensure consistency with these materials.
3) As mentioned above, completely familiarize yourself with all of the content of the student and instructor resources you are provided. Be clear on the Red Cross standards, as opposed to St. John Ambulance, The Lifesaving Society, the Canadian Ski Patrol, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, WorkSafe BC, etc. Each organization does things a little bit differently and it is important to always teach Red Cross courses consistent with the Red Cross course materials.
4) Plan out your assigned teaching presentations before your instructor course. You will probably end up modifying them based on things you learn in the instructor school, but getting the heavy lifting done before your instructor course will take a lot of the pressure off.
How much experience do you need to take a Red Cross First Aid Instructor Course?
How much experience do I need to become a first aid instructor?
The pre-requisites to become a new first aid instructor are to:
- be at least 18 years of age
- hold a valid Standard First Aid with CPR-HCP certificate
The Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR / AED instructor course will then give you the skills you will need to teach effectively.
There are several things you can do to strengthen your skills and knowledge though:
- Take advanced first aid courses to strengthen your knowledge of first aid. We highly recommend the Red Cross First Responder course as an excellent starting point.
- We always recommend auditing or co-teaching with experienced Red Cross first aid instructors.
- If you would like to further your understanding if adult education you should look into the Vancouver Community College School of Instruction. Their website is www.instructordiploma.com
To learn more about the Red Cross First Aid Instructor Development Program click HERE.
And, to view upcoming course dates, you can click HERE.
Should I take the First Responder course for my firefighting application?
Should I take the First Responder course if I want to be a firefighter?
It is important to always consult the actual hiring practices of the department you are applying too, but as a general rule the answer is definitely yes. Most fire departments in British columbia (ie The Vancouver Fire Department, The Burnaby Fire Department, The Coquitlam Fire Department, The New Westminster Fire Department, The Port Moody Fire Department, The Pitt Meadows Fire Department, The Maple Ridge Fire Department, The Langley Fire Department, The Surrey Fire Department, The White Rock Fire Department, The Richmond Fire Department, etc) practice at the First Responder level (which used to be called First Responder Level 3 with Spinal and AED endorsements).
Completing your Canadian Red Cross First Responder course with Priority Care First Aid, which also includes your Emergency Medical Assistant’s Licensing Board practical exams (the EMALB) qualifies you at the same level as firefighters currently working in BC!
To learn more about the First Responder program click HERE.
And, to view upcoming course dates you can click HERE.