Emergency vs Standard First Aid: What’s the Difference and Which One to Choose

Key Takeaways

What’s the Difference Between Emergency and Standard First Aid?

Choosing the right first aid certification is crucial for effective emergency response.

Emergency First Aid focuses on immediate responses for common injuries and emergencies, including CPR and treating minor wounds, typically covered in a single day 8 hour course.
Standard First Aid offers comprehensive training with advanced skills such as managing severe injuries, medical conditions, and using an AED. This is typically a two-day 16 hour course is ideal for higher-risk environments and provides more in-depth care.
Both courses can be offered in a blended format, including half self-directed online learning mixed with instructor-led in-class skills training.
Standard First Aid is the most popular, most requested, and more in-demand.

Learn the Difference Between Emergency and Standard First Aid and Choose the Right Certification for Your Needs

When it comes to emergency preparedness, knowing the right type of first aid training can make a significant difference in how effectively you respond to emergencies.

Understanding emergency vs standard first aid helps you choose the best certification for your needs, whether for personal safety or professional requirements.

What is Emergency First Aid?

Emergency First Aid is a basic level of first aid training designed to provide essential skills needed for immediate response to common emergencies. This certification typically includes:

Basic First Aid: This course includes the most essential first aid skills only.
Minor Injuries: How to treat cuts, bruises, burns, and sprains.
Choking: Techniques to help someone who is choking.
Shock Management: Basic principles of treating shock.
Choice of CPR Levels: You can choose between CPR A and CPR C.

This course is usually completed in one day and is suitable for individuals who require foundational first aid skills, such as for home use or low-risk work environments.

What is Standard First Aid?

Standard First Aid offers a more comprehensive set of skills, ideal for those in higher-risk environments or roles with more responsibilities. Key components of this training include:

Intermediate First Aid: This course expands on Emergency First Aid skills with a broad variety of subjects.
Severe Injuries: Managing fractures, head trauma, severe bleeding, and more complex injuries.
Medical Conditions: Recognizing and responding to medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and diabetic emergencies.
Emergency Response: Detailed procedures for managing various emergency situations.
Choice of CPR Levels: You can choose all levels of CPR, including CPR A, CPR C, and CPR BLS.

This course typically spans two days and is suited for workplaces, schools, or any environment where advanced first aid knowledge is crucial.

Course Duration of Emergency vs Standard First Aid in Ontario

In Ontario, the distinction between emergency first aid vs standard first aid often reflects the level of risk associated with various settings, and also the length of each course. Here’s a comparison to help you decide:

Emergency First Aid: Generally a 8 hour program. Often required for general workplace safety and is a good starting point for those needing basic certification.
Standard First Aid: Generally a 16 hour program. Typically required for roles involving higher risk or responsibility, such as in industrial settings, schools, or organizations where a more thorough knowledge of first aid is needed.

Understanding these differences helps you ensure compliance with local regulations and meet workplace safety standards.

Which Certification Should You Choose?

Choosing between standard first aid vs emergency first aid depends on your specific needs:

For Basic Needs: If you need first aid for personal safety or a low-risk environment, Emergency First Aid may be sufficient.
For the Majority of Circumstances: Standard First Aid offers a more comprehensive skill set, and is the most popular course, most-in-demand for the workplace.

We recommend chosing Standard First Aid over Emergency Aid, but, you should consider your environment, job requirements, and personal safety needs when making your decision.

FAQs

What is Emergency First Aid?

‍Emergency First Aid provides essential skills for immediate response to common emergencies. It includes:

Choice of CPR: CPR A for adults only, or CPR C for adults, children, and infants.
Minor Injuries: Treatment for cuts, burns, and sprains.
Choking: Techniques to help someone who is choking.
Shock Management: Basic principles for treating shock.

This 8 hour course is ideal for foundational first aid skills in low-risk environments.

What is Standard First Aid?

Standard First Aid offers advanced training suitable for higher-risk environments. It covers:

Choice of CPR: CPR A for adults only, or CPR C for adults, children, and infants, or CPR BLS for healthcare provider level care.
Severe Injuries: Management of fractures, head trauma, and severe bleeding.
Medical Conditions: Response to heart attacks, strokes, and diabetic emergencies.
Emergency Response: Detailed procedures for various emergencies.

This 16 hour course is ideal for workplaces and settings requiring comprehensive first aid knowledge.

Which first aid certification should I choose?

We recommend Standard First Aid. It's more comprehensive, only slightly higher priced, and prepares you for a wider variety of medical emergencies than Emergency First Aid. It's the most popular of the two, is more commonly required and valued in the workplace, and has the same certification length of 3 years.

How long does each first aid course take?

Emergency First Aid is typically a one-day course covering basic life-saving skills. Standard First Aid typically spans two days, offering more comprehensive training in advanced skills and emergency response. That said, blended courses are more popular, allowing half the course to be learned online, and only requiring a shortened in-class skills session to complete the certification training — 4 hours for Emergency First Aid, and 8 hours for Standard First Aid.

In Conclusion

Understanding the difference between standard and emergency first aid is crucial for selecting the right certification for your needs. Whether you opt for emergency vs standard first aid, both certifications play a vital role in ensuring safety and preparedness.

Make an informed choice to ensure you’re equipped with the appropriate skills to handle emergencies effectively. Stay certified, stay prepared, and make a difference when it matters most.