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How can employers reduce the impact of poor mental health in the workplace?
The link between stress, mental health and employee absence is well known; it remains a significant challenge for many Canadian employers. Poor mental health in the workplace has a negative impact on both physical and mental well-being of employees. The early signs of poor mental health can be seen when employees begin to experience physical…
World First Aid Day – Sept 8 2018 – Why learn first aid?
The second Saturday in September is World First Aid Day. On this day we acknowledge the role of first aid awareness, training and practical application in making a real difference to people’s lives. A common misconception is ‘it won’t happen to me’. The truth is that thousands of Canadians die and millions are injured each…
A man drowned at the beach on my daughter’s birthday.
A couple of years ago we were celebrating my daughter’s birthday at White Pines beach in Port Moody. A young man went missing in the lake, people started yelling and eventually the man was found under an inflatable raft. He was dragged onto the beach and paramedics performed CPR. The man was then airlifted to…
Red Cross trainer saved by students. Would you know what to do?
Luckily for Red Cross trainer Inga Sloan her students knew what to do when she experienced a heart attack at age 39. Inga had just started teaching her first aid class when she suddenly collapsed. With no signs, symptoms, or warning, Inga dropped to the floor and went into full cardiac arrest. She was showing…
News for Employers – Workplace First Aid Certifications in BC
Great news regarding workplace first aid certification! Effective September 1 2018, both Canadian Red Cross Emergency First Aid (EFA) and Standard First Aid (SFA) will be recognized as equivalent to Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 1, also known as Workplace Emergency First Aid (WEFA). Unlike the Level 1 program, Red Cross EFA and SFA certification…
Would you give first aid if it meant risking your job?
This is a question that library staff in Fraser Valley, B.C, now have to consider after being ordered not to perform first aid in emergencies. Imagine this question on a multiple choice test. Q: You are working in the library and you see a person fall to the floor. What should you do? A: …
Mental Health First Aid – Learn to help people with mental health issues
When people think of first-aid training, they often think of CPR or bandages. But now there is a program that teaches people how to help those with mental health issues. If somebody breaks a leg we call 911 and the ambulance comes, but with mental health issues it’s harder to recognize the signs and the…
October 19 2018, Pro D Day Babysitting Class, Coquitlam. Register today!
Are you worried when you leave your older child at home alone with their younger siblings? If you’d like your 11-15 year old to learn babysitting skills and how to be safer when home alone, you may like to sign them up for our Red Cross Babysitting class on October 19 2018 in Coquitlam. Register online…
How Mental Health First Aid Training Saves Employers Money
As a responsible employer, you provide a physically safe environment for your workers. But what about their psychological health and safety? Are you doing enough to help your staff be their best selves at work? Supporting your employees’ mental health with Mental Health First Aid training, can improve productivity, reduce absences, and increase worker retention.…
Tri-Cities Champions for Young Children Awards of Excellence
On May 11 2017 I attended the Tri-Cities Champions for Young Children Awards of Excellence event at the Hard Rock Casino. Presented by the Tri-Cities Early Childhood Development Committee, this event is a celebration of those who have improved the lives of children aged birth to 6 years and their families in the Tri-Cities. As…