About our training

Our commitment to education / Our approach to first aid education / Our philosophy



Our Commitment to
First Aid Education
Injury reduction is complex and requires a collaborative approach with stakeholders from diverse communities and disciplines. Within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we focus on helping people and communities by mobilizing and harnessing the power of humanity. Assisting people to understand how injuries can happen and the strategies to reduce them, combined with education on the latest first aid skills and knowledge, increases confidence and ultimately increases people’s ability and willingness to act in an emergency. 
First aid as a practice aims to prevent further suffering, protect life, and promote recovery. First aid training empowers individuals to:
Prevent
Injury
Recongnize
Illness or Injury
Provide
Care
Our learner-centred approach promotes knowledge transfer and skill retention. Through a safe, meaningful, cooperative learning environment, we help build learners’ understanding and confidence. 
VIEW OUR FIRST AID COURSES >
Our History
Our History
The Canadian Red Cross has delivered Prevention & Safety education programs for over 80 years. Our current programs provide injury prevention, harm reduction, wellness and safety education for youth and adults in a variety of disciplines.  

Our First Aid program began in the 1940s in response to health outcomes at the time. Red Cross delivered education to communities in Canada with the goal to reduce injury and unintentional death. Today, the Red Cross is the leading provider of first aid education in Canada.

We continue to support consistent, quality first aid program delivery across the country and create a menu of programs to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Our Impact

80+
Years of delivering
educational programs
2,400
Training Partners
80+
Large Corporate Clients
850,000+
Canadians take training with
us each year

Our First Aid Programs

A trusted brand for over 80 years, Red Cross First Aid training has grown to include industry-specific, harm reduction and wellness options. Our training focuses on building confidence, skills, and attitudes to improve health outcomes. Learners receive three-year certification for personal or workplace requirements.   

We also offer a range of bilingual Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) online courses, giving workplaces accessible, flexible options. Successful learners receive a certificate of completion for each online course.  

We continue to adapt and evolve our programs to reflect current health trends and respond to emerging needs. Our goal is to ensure first aid training is accessible to everyone, helping to reduce barriers and health disparities.  

Learner-centered
training
Evidence-based
high-quality curriculum
Flexible solutions and
delivery options
Skill practice to
reinforce retention
Compliance with
accessibility standards
Meet OHS and first aid
training needs
Flexible solutions and
delivery options
Meet OHS and first aid
training needs
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COURSE CATALOG

Research & Science Behind Our Programs

The Canadian Red Cross Society is part of the largest global humanitarian network, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This network includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) and 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies dedicated to helping those facing disaster, conflict and health and social problems throughout the world.

Comprising dedicated volunteers from across Canada who are experts in their respective fields, the CCFAE interprets the science on which our programs are built, advises on program design, collaborates on national and international initiatives, and helps to raise the profile of evidence-based education and programs. Our volunteer subject matter experts include those with fields of expertise in education, community health, pre-hospital care, and in-hospital care. Our team's diverse knowledge, perspectives, and qualifications ensure that our learning solutions are accurate, respectful, meaningful, and appropriate for learner audiences. Red Cross First Aid programs are reviewed and endorsed by our council. Learn about our CCFAE members.

In addition to the councils, Canadian Red Cross has a growing team of medical professionals who review and advise on the clinical aspects of our programs.

The Canadian Red Cross participates on the North American Scientific Advisory Council made up of a panel of over 50 members from research, medicine and other disciplines who review the evidence basis of our programs. Members of the Scientific Advisory Council also sit on the Global First Aid Reference Centre of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Learn about guideline research and members.

The European Centre for First Aid Education was created in 1996 then became the Global First Aid Reference Centre (GFARC) in 2012 to answer growing demands in our field. Our ultimate objectives are to reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries as well as to make people and communities more resilient using first aid. GFARC is a ‘centre of excellence’ of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) hosted by the French Red Cross.

The Canadian Red Cross as part of GFARC collaborates with 192 National Societies as well as scientific, institutional and private partners to facilitate knowledge sharing and promote quality first aid education at the global level. Learn about the Global First Aid Reference Centre.