BC Services

Level of Care


BC Services

In B.C. Worksafe BC recommends the level of care provided at different work sites with varying conditions, Schedule 3-A Minimum Levels of First Aid. In Alberta there is similar recommendations.

In these schedules they recommend a number of different levels of care, following are the descriptions of these levels. They are all very basic training and in remote sites often a more advanced level of training and ability is requested by the employer to better protect their workers.

All medic/paramedics must be licensed in the province they are working in. Often medics trained in other jurisdictions write equivalence exams. They are then able to obtain licensing in secondary jurisdictions.

All medics/paramedics and anyone using an AED (Automatic External defibrillator) must work under the direction of a medical director.

Worksafe BC requires:

First aid Level 1 to level 3 with transportation endorsement.

Level 1 First Aid Certificate

Level 1 certification requires successful completion of an Occupational First Aid Level 1 training course. This is a 7-hour course. Renewal of Level 1 certification requires successful completion of the full course. In some circumstances, restricted Level 1 certificates may be issued to firefighters employed by municipal fire departments who have not taken the course.

Level 2 First Aid Certificate

Level 2 certification requires participation in a 36-hour training course and passing an examination acceptable to WorkSafe BC. Renewal is normally accomplished by retaking the course and exam; however, the candidate may elect to take the exam without additional training. Based on qualifications and experience, restricted Level 2 certificates may be issued to physicians and registered nurses in hospitals and to firefighters in municipal fire departments who have not taken the course.

Level 3 First Aid Certificate

Level 3 certification requires participation in a 70-hour training course and passing an examination acceptable to WorkSafeBC. Renewal is normally accomplished by retaking the 70-hour course, or a 35-hour refresher course, before taking the exam; however, the candidate may elect to take the exam without additional training.

OFA training and the EMR course have essentially the same focus. OFA training is classified higher than regular first aid, and can perform basic
life support.

Skills

  • Perform primary & secondary surveys of injured workers
  • Control bleeding
  • Administer Oxygen
  • Perform CPR & basic airway support
  • Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) With an additional course.

Transportation Endorsement

A Transportation Endorsement for a Level 1 or Level 2 first aid certificate requires the certificate holder to successfully complete a 7-hour Occupational First Aid Transportation Endorsement training course.

Phoenix provides level 3 attendants as a minimum standard.

For advanced care in B.C. Phoenix provides:

Emergency Medical Responders – EMR’s

  • Perform an enhanced standardized patient assessment
  • Assess and managea broader range of life-threatening traumatic emergencies
  • Assess and manage a broader range of life-threatening medical emergencies
  • Conduct anenhanced secondary assessment consisting of:
  • Patient History
  • Assessment of Vital Signs (including blood pressures and pulse oximetry)
  • A physical examination (including chest auscultation)
  • Perform CPR (Adult, Child, Infant) and use an Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
  • Perform enhanced Airway management; oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal airways, suction, Perform enhanced Breathing management; pocket mask, and Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM)
  • Perform enhanced wound and fracture management; including the application of a Sager Splint
  • Perform emergency childbirth and neonatal care.
  • Maintain intravenous lines (qualifies candidates for ‘IV Maintenance Endorsement’ on license)
  • Administer the following medications; Nitroglycerin, Glucogel, Nitrous Oxide, ASA Aspirin, Salbutamol and Ventolin (metered-dose-inhaler), Epinephrine via auto-injector.
  • Perform Glucometric testing and management of endocrine emergencies
  • Conduct the lifting, loading, extrication and preparation of patients for transport
  • PCP Primary Care Paramedic**

Primary Care Parameidc – PCP

Skills mastered by paramedics with this level of training include that of the EMR and:
Intravenous therapy, extraglottic airway devices (KING Airway), nasopharyngeal airways, automatic external defibrillation, Entonox for pain control, diabetic treatments (D10, Thiamine, and Glucagon), Narcan (for unconscious overdoses), epinephrine and Benadryl (for anaphylaxis and allergic reactions), nebulized Ventolin (for acute short of breath asthma or COPD), CPR, extrication techniques, patient assessment and triage, communicable diseases and isolation techniques, obstetrics, emergency driving, lifting techniques, equipment familiarity and preservation of evidence.

 ACP Advanced Care Paramedics and remote nurses. 

Career PCP with three years of full time service, who have demonstrated exceptional related abilities may become eligible for Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) training. The candidate must first pass a rigorous examination and screening by medical and BCAS authorities and score a passing grade on their pre-entrance written and general exams. Skills include: Cardiac monitoring, arrhythmia recognition, manual defibrillation, endotracheal intubation, intravenous and drug therapy.

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