Emergency first aid for security guards

The requirement

In Ontario, the 40-hour basic training includes Emergency Level First Aid certification (6.5 h), equivalent to the St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid course, and candidates must give the test administrator a valid certificate before writing the licensing test (O. Reg. 26/10 s.2(1)(a.1)). BC and Alberta employers commonly require first aid as well. This note is a summary - it does not replace a certified course with hands-on practice.

What first aid is

First aid is emergency care given to an ill or injured person with readily available materials until medical help takes over. Its aims: preserve life, prevent further injury, promote recovery. A guard at a scene may also protect the casualty's belongings, keep bystanders back, reassure family and friends, and guide paramedics in.