Advanced First Aid is a recognised course under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Our Advanced First Aid course is considered "traditional" in it's format. We do full-time, Monday-Friday x 2 weeks, for an 80-hour class with the Instructor/Educator present the entire 80-hours. We believe in the value of pre-study, homework, and self-directed learning. However we do not include these hours towards our approved course under Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

Hybrid courses in Advanced First Aid exist in Alberta, and may well suit students in specific situations. Since our beginnings in 1988 as an independent provider of First Aid, we have never "tilted" in this direction. 

We believe that students pursuing a career in Fire/Rescue and EMS require our full attention. 80 hours of face-to-face learning is just enough time to prepare the students.

The term Medical First Responder is rather nebulous. Meaning, it had no firm course content, hours of instruction, or specific approval. The term originated when AHS began the complete take-over of EMS/Ambulnace opertions in Alberta. Many small towns and communities were either left with no ambulance stationed in their town, or may have lost the ambulance stationed in their town during this transition.

MFR was created to allow (mostly) volunteers, and paid members in the community to respond to medical and trauma emergencies. MFR members in these communities would have (at a minimum) Standard/Intermediate First Aid training, CPR with AED, and currently Narcan training for Opioid emergencies. They could respond to locations in their respective communities, provide "Medical First Response" until an AHS approved Ambulance would arrive, assume care, and provide transportation.

Some MFR responders have training well beyond Standard/Intermediate First aid. In fact, many are registered Emergency Medical Responders (EMR), Primary or Advanced Care Paramedics, registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics.

So the term MFR is simply that, a term that implies a person in a community that is responsible for Medical First Response, without the ability to transport. These small communities with an existing MFR programme (overseen by Alberta Health Services) have an agreement to provide this vital care, and can apply for funding to purchase equipment, training, and logistics in their respective communities. They are not allowed to transport their patients by ambulance.

MFR and Training Standards

To summarize, there is no standard of MFR training content. It is simply based on the needs of the specific community. When you are looking for a training programme that is approved for Fire/Rescue applications, be very mindful that many organisations name/label there courses as a Medical First Responder Course. You must ask very specific questions. Is your course approved by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)? What level is it approved at? How many hours of the class are with the Instructor/Educator, as opposed to self-directed or hybrid learning?

Alberta Health Services link to MFR Program:  https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/ems/page12561.aspx

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Approved First Aid Providers link: https://ohs-pubstore.labour.alberta.ca/fa018

Edmonton Fire/Rescue Applicant page link:  https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/jobs/firefighter-recruitment 

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me (Greg) directly. My number is 780.451.4437, or toll-free: 1.800.797.4437 If you get my voicemail, I'm likely in a class or with a patient, please leave a message ,or text me: 780.499.2812