Delta Emergency Canadian Red Cross Hybrid Advanced First Aid

We started teaching this new version of Hybrid Advanced First Aid in June 2021. Every student has rated our program with 5 stars and they all recommend it to their peers. 60 hours of at home learning and 24 hours in-class over 1 Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Certify as an Advanced First Aider through online content such as videos, skill sheets, quizzes, written group discussions, 1:1 video instructor video sessions, weekly workbooks - more than multiple choice questions, games and repeatable tests to test your comprehension.  Real instructors with real emergency experience. Skill sessions that deliver quality scenarios. Group scenarios to develop real world teamwork. We’re a smaller business of like-minded emergency professionals and we’re not listed on Google, yet.

Traditional Canadian Red Cross Advanced First Aid

What does 80 hours in the classroom look like? Sitting in a classroom for 10 days straight. Taking vacation days or quitting your job. Past Red Cross Advanced First Aid students with other providers have let us know they feel they're being kept in class just to hit that 80 hour requirement and feel the in-person course is too long. The other downside is that the first 5-6 hours of each day are focused on the didactic training and PowerPoint, then you practice 1 or 2 skills at the end of the day. Traditional classroom works for some people. We are here to accommodate the people that need a true Hybrid Learning Format with 1 weekend of in-person skills.

1. Friday Night Session

   • Here's how Friday looks:

     • Arrive at weekend training facility. Give an overview of classroom setup. Student and instructor introductions.

     • Review quizzes, exams, answer questions from online course. Jeopardy style game for course content review.

     • Review any skills sheets that were unclear. Speak about skill indications + contraindications.

     • Practice taking vital signs - pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, lung sounds, SpO2, etc.

     • Discuss Week 3 verbal scenario, verbal scenario performed as a group.

2. Saturday + Sunday Session

   • Here’s a brief overview of Saturday:

     • All other AFA skills are demonstrated by the instructor and then performed by each student.

     • Individual and group scenarios are given throughout the day.

     • Group skills such as spinal motion restriction will require the student the participate in the skill at least 4 times.

       • Once to run the skill, and other times being part of a team member running the skill.

     • Every skill learned is applied to scenarios on Sunday.

   • Here’s a brief overview of Sunday:

     • Scenario day. Every scenario is graded. You need 1 successful scenario where you are the primary attendant to pass the course.

     • Scenarios will build in complexity. Basic ones at first to solidify the Scene/Primary assessments. Memorization of Assessment Acronyms is key.

     • Scenarios then progress in patient severity, where all team members work together to apply skills/equipment.

     • You will use more than 1 piece of equipment and skill as scenarios progress. The goal is to use the equipment realistically every single time.

     • You will be asked key knowledge points about each piece of equipment when you utilize them.

       • Key points were taught through the online course, textbook reading, the workbooks, quizzes, skill sheets, and Friday/Saturday.

3. Private Video Session with an Instructor

   • Does every student recommend the video session? Yep.

   • Does any other AFA provider offer 1:1 video sessions with their students? Nope, just Delta Emergency.

   • There are virtual time-slots for everyone to have a 1+ hour session with an instructor prior to the in-person course. It is capped at 1 student per session. It is not required, but recommended. Sometimes they go to 90+ minutes, but we've had great feedback from students that have signed up for the video session. In the session, we can review your course progress, review mid-terms/quizzes, and clarify any questions.

   • Then, we review how in-person scenarios are structured and we give you a basic verbal scenario during the hour. It will help you understand the format of what we are looking for during your scenarios. Availability will be on weeknights after 18:00. The online scheduler for this will be available within the online course. There will be as many spots open as there are students in each cohort.

4. Weekly Written Scenarios

   • At the start of Week 1 and Week 2 we release a scenario writeup that describes an emergency call and some basic scene and patient information.

   • All students will read the scenario and reply to the scenario. Students think about the first steps they would take and their initial treatments. They type what they would do from Scene Assessment -> Treatments.

   • Students write their own reply, can format is however they like, and do not reply with "I'd do what she did, and add..."

   • Instructors will read each students answer but not reply until everyone has completed the assignment. Students have 1 week to writeup a reply to each week.

   • The goal is to see what you prioritize and what you visualize as potential treatment/patient pathways. We give feedback on what you wrote. It doesn't matter if you forgot C-Spine, or didn't think about shock, etc. It is used as a learning tool and is a great way to see the priorities you fellow classmates think about.

   • We release a formal writeup and answer to the scenario 10 days after one is posted. It contains all the things a student could consider with that particular emergency. There are actually some key points to take away as you work in the real world and encounter similar patients.

The Future

We want to be the first Red Cross provider that stays connected to their past students. Delta Emergency Professional Responder Community Forum. The goal is to make it a space for students to connect, make a concise list of emergency medical pathways for programs/colleges/provinces, share volunteering opportunities, career postings, first responder discounts, real-call talk, scenarios, etc. It will be a place that only past students can access, so there won't be any internet trolls - unless you are one. We just wanted to make a dedicated training spot for you to come and reflect on different emergency calls.

Want to use a BVM again? SMR a patient to a backboard? The Delta Community Forum will also keep you informed of joining in-person skill days. There will be a small fee to cover some basic costs, but it will allow you to come for the full weekend, or just 1 day of scenarios on Sunday. After class registration closes for a cohort we will contact past students through our LMS and invite them to come back for some risk-free, stress-free training.

The Delta Community Forum will also be a perfect way to introduce yourself to other students, network, and possibly exchange information about training, volunteering, or job opportunities. It's up to you. A network of Professional Responders lifting one another up. What could be better?

Update Nov 19, 2021: We are currently modifying our format and more details will be released in January 2022.