Howdy Folks,
After the Announcement from the government on Thursday regarding the ongoing restrictions and discussion with the Alberta representative of the Canadian Red Cross, and the newly added directive below I have decided to postpone all Wilderness First Aid courses until the government restrictions are lifted.
1. Does the activity violate a public health order?
Under recent health orders, an activity is not allowed to proceed if it involves:
- any event or gathering of 15 or more people.
- a situation where physical distancing isn’t possible.
- An activity involving fewer than 15 people that requires individuals to maintain less than two metres (6 feet) from others, unless the individuals are from the same household.
We would have attendees participating in activities that promote disease transmission, like accident and injury simulation and rescue scenarios that would be occurring in the WRFA & AWRFA courses, and it means that I will be postponing the course you are registered in.
If you require your certification for work please note that “The Canadian Red Cross is aware that in person course cancellations due to COVID-19 precautionary measures and closures and will have an impact on those requiring to maintain their certifications. Red Cross has worked with workplace health and safety regulators to offer support to those who have certifications that will expire in the next months.
All Red Cross first aid certifications (which would have expired March through June 30, 2020) will be considered valid 90-days beyond their expiry date. These certifications will also be accepted for those taking recertification courses when in-person training resumes.”
Please note that expired certifications may be extended further as conditions require or alternate training methods, like the currently available online Standard First Aid portion of the training that will cover you for 90 days from completion, become available.
If you have already paid for your course you will be able to join in any upcoming scheduled course, as soon as we are able to resume teaching, without incurring any transfer or administration surcharges.
If you have yet to pay there will be no increase in training fees for the remainder of this year.
This affects all courses scheduled throughout the summer unless the Government eases up on the restrictions in the coming months.
James Tucker
OutThere First Aid
Red Cross AWRFAI
Red Cross Training Partner