Lesson 1: Your role and the law
Security guards are often the first trained person at an emergency. This course gives you awareness of first aid. It is not a first aid certificate. Take a hands-on first aid and CPR course from a recognized training agency to learn and practise the skills.
Consent
- Before helping a person who is awake, tell them who you are and ask for permission (consent).
- If the person is unresponsive, the law assumes you have permission to help.
- If a person refuses help, do not force it. Call 9-1-1 if needed and stay nearby.
Legal protection
Each province has its own rules. For example, Alberta's Emergency Medical Aid Act protects people who give emergency first aid voluntarily, unless the harm was caused by gross negligence. The federal Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act gives some legal protection to people who experience or witness an opioid poisoning and call for help.
Your employer and post orders may also set first aid duties for your site. Know where the first aid kit and AED are.
First aid Eyewash station
Lesson 2: Check, Call, Care
The three emergency steps.
- Check: make sure the scene is safe, then check the person.
- Call: call 9-1-1 for anything life-threatening, or if in doubt, and send for an AED.
- Care: give first aid for the most serious problem first.
Check
- Look for dangers: traffic, fire, electricity, chemicals, violence.
- Tap the person and shout to see if they respond.
- Check for normal breathing for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Look quickly for severe bleeding.
Protect yourself
Always use a barrier, such as gloves or a CPR mask. After giving care, wash your hands, rubbing them together for at least 30 seconds, then rinse. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if there is no sink.
Lesson 3: CPR, AED and the recovery position
If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, assume their heart has stopped. Slow gasping is not normal breathing.
- Call 9-1-1 and send someone for the AED.
- Start chest compressions in the centre of the chest.
- Give 30 compressions, then 2 breaths, and repeat.
- Use the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its voice prompts.
| CPR point | Adult |
|---|---|
| Rate | 100 to 120 compressions per minute |
| Depth | At least 5 cm (2 in.) |
| Ratio | 30 compressions to 2 breaths |
Typical AED pad placement on an adult. Always follow the pictures on the pads.
- One pad on the upper right chest, below the collarbone.
- One pad on the lower left side of the chest, below the armpit.
Pads go on dry, bare skin. Nobody should touch the person while the AED analyzes the heart rhythm or gives a shock. Right after a shock, restart compressions and keep following the AED prompts. If you cannot or will not give breaths, give compressions only. It is much better than doing nothing.
Recovery position
If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, roll them onto their side so the body stays safely on its side. This helps keep the airway clear. Keep checking their breathing until help arrives.
Lesson 4: Bleeding, burns and choking
Serious bleeding
- Apply firm, direct pressure on the wound.
- If blood soaks through, add more dressings on top.
- If direct pressure cannot control life-threatening bleeding from a limb, use a tourniquet if you are trained: 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in.) above the injury and at least 2.5 cm (1 in.) above any joint.
- Write down the time the tourniquet was tightened.
Steps to control serious bleeding.
- Press firmly and directly on the wound.
- Hold a dressing in place with a bandage.
- Use a tourniquet above the wound if pressure fails.
Burns
Cool a heat burn with cool (not freezing) water or a clean, cool compress for at least 10 minutes.
Choking
If an adult cannot cough, speak or breathe, the 2025 Canadian guidelines recommend 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts, repeated until the object comes out. If the person is coughing hard and can still speak, encourage them to keep coughing and stay ready to help. If the person becomes unresponsive, call 9-1-1 and start CPR.
Lesson 5: Sudden illness
| Emergency | Signs | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack | Chest pain or pressure that may spread to the arms, jaw or back; sweating; trouble breathing | Call 9-1-1, get an AED, have them rest. If they can take it, help them chew 1 regular-strength or 2 low-dose ASA tablets. Do not use acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead. |
| Stroke (FAST) | Face drooping or numb, Arm weakness, Speech trouble | Time: call 9-1-1 right away and note when signs started |
| Seizure | Sudden jerking movements, loss of awareness | Move hard objects away, protect the head, do not hold them down. Call 9-1-1 if it lasts more than a few minutes. |
| Opioid poisoning | Very slow or no breathing, unresponsive, blue lips | Call 9-1-1. If not breathing normally, start CPR and give naloxone if available. |
Lesson 6: Handing over and reporting
Keep caring for the person until paramedics take over, the person recovers, the scene becomes unsafe, or you are too exhausted to continue.
When paramedics arrive
- Tell them what happened, what you saw and what care you gave
- Give the time of any tourniquet, ASA or naloxone
- Hand over any information the person told you
Afterwards
- Write an incident report with times and facts, not guesses
- Keep personal and health information private; share it only with those who need it
- Restock the first aid kit and report used AED pads
- Talk to your supervisor if the event upset you. Helping in an emergency can be stressful.