School-based CPR training
The CPR in Schools program helps students develop the skills needed to recognize an emergency and respond to a person experiencing cardiorespiratory arrest or an airway obstruction.
Depending on the course, training may cover responding to an adult, child, or infant, as well as the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
The Lifesaving Society is one of the recognized organizations providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in Quebec.
Three Complementary Courses
The program includes three courses designed to train students and qualify those responsible for teaching the program:
CPR in Schools
Duration: 3 hours
Prerequisite: None
The course is primarily intended for Secondary 3 students but may also be offered at other grade levels. It must be delivered as part of school or extracurricular activities.
The three hours of training can be divided into several sessions throughout the school year, making it easier to incorporate into physical education and health classes.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Recognize a situation requiring emergency intervention;
Perform a primary assessment of an unconscious person;
Communicate with emergency medical services;
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
Respond to an airway obstruction;
Use an automated external defibrillator (AED);
Recognize certain risk factors associated with cardiovascular emergencies;
Understand the main legal considerations associated with providing first aid.
The course is taught and evaluated by a qualified CPR in Schools Teacher.
Participation in the course does not automatically guarantee certification. Students must successfully demonstrate the skills required by the program.
After the course, the results of students who successfully complete the requirements must be submitted to the Lifesaving Society so that certifications can be issued.
CPR in Schools Teacher
Duration: 7 hours
This course is intended for physical education and health teachers as well as students preparing to enter the profession.
It provides the skills required to teach and evaluate the CPR in Schools course.
Candidates must hold a teaching certificate issued by the Ministère de l’Éducation or be in the process of obtaining one. The course is taught and evaluated by a CPR Trainer – Physical Education and Health.
To maintain the CPR in Schools Teacher qualification, individuals must successfully complete a CPR-C course to keep their resuscitation skills up to date.
The course may be taken individually or organized for a group of teachers from the same school or school service centre.
Once the CPR-C course has been successfully completed, a recertification request must be submitted to the Lifesaving Society along with a copy of the CPR-C certification. The Lifesaving Society will then validate the qualification before issuing the new certification.
A $30 fee applies for certification renewal.
CPR Trainer – Physical Education and Health
The CPR Trainer – Physical Education and Health is responsible for training and supporting CPR in Schools Teachers.
The role also includes providing ongoing support to teachers, sharing the information required to maintain their skills, and submitting course results to the Lifesaving Society.
To qualify, candidates must:
Hold a teaching certificate issued by the Ministère de l’Éducation;
Hold the CPR in Schools Teacher qualification;
Have taught at least 5 CPR in Schools courses within a 2-year period.
Implementing the Program in a School
The CPR in Schools program can be incorporated into a school’s programming to help students develop the skills needed to recognize a cardiorespiratory emergency and respond quickly.
The Lifesaving Society can support schools and teaching staff in implementing the program and guide teachers through the CPR in Schools Teacher qualification process.