Canada has over 24 different first aid providers that meet legislation standards. However, the bulk of basic first aid courses is taught by a select few, popular, first aid and CPR providers. It can be difficult to determine which provider to register with. The following is some facts and descriptions on the different available providers and the pros and cons of the courses they provide.
All of the providers offer certificates that are of equal value. An emergency first aid certificate from St Mark James is of equal value to one from St. Johns Ambulance or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. No provider offers a certificate that is of any higher value unless it is of a different course.
St Mark James Training:
St Mark James Training is the most popular provider of first aid and CPR courses. They are the first and original providers of these courses. They offer the largest quantity of courses in Canada and have the largest selection of courses in Canada. The manuals that St Mark James offers meet the highest standards in quality and information. St Mark James updates its program at an average pace in comparison to the other four providers. St Mark James also offers re-certification courses and give candidates full certification once they complete the course, rather than having them to wait for it in the mail and possibly never come. Customer service at St Mark James center is average.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation:
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is the leader in first aid and CPR research and is easily the first of the four providers to adapt to new changes. However, courses with the Heart and Stroke Foundation can be hard to find and expensive. Instruction booklets are of low quality and instructors have been labelled as poor. Due to the lack of courses and no re-certification courses the Heart and Stroke Foundation ranks 4th in overall first aid and CPR training.
Conclusion:
St Mark James is the leader in first aid and CPR instruction due to the quality, quantity and value of its courses.