Online first aid courses

Nova Scotia's Occupational Health and Safety First Aid Regulations (NS Reg 155/96) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act require employers to designate and train enough first-aiders based on employees per shift, workplace type, and travel time to emergency care. Levels range from Basic to Advanced (CSA Z1210 / CSA Z1220), overseen by the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration.

Nova Scotia's Early Learning and Child Care Regulations (s. 28(1)) under the Early Learning and Child Care Act require every director, care provider, family home consultant and staff member working directly with children to hold a valid first-aid certificate that includes infant CPR from a recognized program. Oversight rests with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, and online courses are accepted.

Nova Scotia's Volunteer Services Act (RSNS 1989, c 497) protects an unpaid volunteer who renders assistance from liability for damages from their acts or omissions, except in cases of gross negligence or wilful or criminal misconduct. Section 4B adds explicit protection for the use of an automated external defibrillator.

Nurses in Nova Scotia are regulated by the Nova Scotia College of Nursing, whose mandatory annual Continuing Competence Program requires a self-assessment and professional growth plan rather than fixed hours, and physicians by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. A current BLS or CPR certificate is generally an employer requirement in hospital and long-term-care settings, and can be included in the professional growth plan.

In Nova Scotia's homes for special care (nursing homes and residential care facilities), Continuing Care Assistants are commonly certified in Standard First Aid with CPR Level C, and employers require it so staff can respond to residents in an emergency. A recognized, up-to-date certificate meets this expectation in addition to the CCA's occupational training and must be renewed periodically.

In Nova Scotia, foster caregivers approved under the Children and Family Services Act complete Standard First Aid with CPR (Level C) from a recognized organization, arranged and funded through the provincial foster care system and the Department of Opportunities and Social Development. The training covers adult, child and infant emergencies including anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto-injector use, and must be renewed to stay current.

Online CPR and first aid training is recognized in Nova Scotia for personal, childcare-licensing and employer purposes, delivering a 3-year certification. The practical portion of CSA levels is normally completed in person.