EMR- Emergency Medical Responder- (Alberta) Education...
EMR courses run from 5–7 weeks in duration, and focus on entry level ambulance work. EMR are classified higher than first aid, and can perform basic life support. Once completed, they must write and pass the provincial exam to become eligible to work in Alberta.
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.
OFA 3- Occupational First Aid Attendant- (British Columbia) Education...
OFA courses run from 5-7 weeks in duration, and focus on advanced first aid. OFA training and the EMR course in Alberta 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.
Both the EMR and OFA levels of training are relatively the same. Any service providing these levels should at least as a minimum provide an AED on every unit, especially in remote areas. EMR’s are used in Alberta while OFA’s are used in British Columbia. Currently, OFA’s are mandatory on each work site.
**An Important Note**
On.Site teaches a course called EMP Canada, this is the equivalent to both EMR and OFA, and allows our staff to work in both B.C, and Alberta. On.Site is the only licensed company to teach this course in Grande Prairie.
EMT-A- Emergency Medical Technician-Ambulance- (Alberta) Education- EMT...
A courses run between 4-6 months and focuses on ambulance care at the basic life support level. After each course the students are required to ride on an ambulance and pass a 2-3 month practicum under the direction of a licensed Paramedic. Once completed, they must write and pass the provincial exam to become eligible to work in Alberta.
Skills
- Perform primary & secondary surveys of injured workers
- Control bleeding
- Administer Oxygen
- Basic Trauma Life Support
- Perform CPR & basic airway support
- Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
- Administer Entonox (Pain Control) 12-1 Skill
- Start Intravenous lines (Trauma Fluid Replacement) 12-1 Skill
- Administer limited medications. 12-1 Skill
- Test blood glucose levels. 12-1 Skill
- Cardiac monitoring and interpretation 12-1 skill
EMT-A’s are trained to the basic trauma life support level. To perform their job properly the service they are working for must supply in all their units the following pieces of equipment.
- Intravenous solutions and IV catheters
- Entonox bottle and administration mask
- An automated External Defibrillator or (AED)
- Glucose test strips and Dextrose 50% Solutions
- Traction Splint
**An Important Note**
Many companies provide & charge for EMT-A’s as medical staff on their units, but they do not supply the above 5 items. Without those above pieces of equipment, an EMT-A is basically a first aid attendant again. If you are paying for an EMT-A unit, it should be equipped with the above items. Every EMT-A must be registered with the Alberta College of Paramedics in order to work as an EMT-A.
EMT-P- Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic- (Alberta) Education...
EMT-P courses are 2 years in addition to the EMR & EMT-A courses, and focuses on ambulance care at the advanced life support level. After each course the students are required to ride on an ambulance and pass a 6 month practicum under the direction of another licensed Paramedic. Once completed, they must write and pass the provincial exam to become eligible to work in Alberta.
Skills
- Perform all of the above skills included in the EMR & EMT-A levels.
- Perform Advanced Life Support Measures Including
- Advanced Airway Management- Intubations & Surgical Airways
- Chest Decompression- Treatment for Collapsed Lungs
- Suturing
- Medication Administration (Over 50 Emergency Medications)
- Cardiac Monitoring and Manipulation
- Cardioversion / Defibrillation / Pacing / 12- Lead Interpretation
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
EMT-P's are trained to the Advanced Trauma & Cardiac life support level. Paramedics essentially can perform or administer virtually all emergency procedures seen in the hospital ER rooms. They are highly specialized in not only emergency care, but as critical care transport as well.
The most important aspect for companies to be aware of is regardless of the level of care you choose to use on your work site, if the proper equipment is not supplied, they can not do their job properly. For example, if you choose to have a Paramedic or even a doctor on your site, they could do no more for an injured worker than a first aid attendant without the proper equipment and supplies.
On.Site has included a check sheet as a template for choosing medical services. We hope this becomes helpful in the decision process. The template lists the various levels of attendants, and what equipment is necessary for that attendant to perform at the level to which they have been trained. Why pay for a service if they are not capable of doing more than a first aider.