Rationale for Changes
Canadian Red Cross Professional Responder Programs

Professional Responder Changes

Canadian Red Cross Rationale of Content Changes to Professional Responder Program.        

In October of 2018, the Canadian Red Cross launched their updated Professional Responder programs, including Basic Life Support (BLS) courses, First Responder (FR) courses, and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) courses. These updated Professional Responder programs included several significant changes to the BLS, First Responder and EMR skills & principles being taught in Canadian Red Cross courses.

Some of the updates included changes to existing First Responder and EMR skills and principles, some Professional Responder skills and principles were removed entirely, while some of the changes included the addition of entirely new ideas, principles and Professional Responder skills. The Professional Responder course student manuals, support materials, and Instructor guides were also updated in accordance with the new guidelines.

The EMR and First Responder skills and principles adopted by the Canadian Red Cross follow the guidelines from the most currently recognized International Liaison Committee on Rescuscitation (ILCOR) and Canadian Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) recommendations.

To assist Canadian Red Cross First Responder and EMR Instructors in familiarizing themselves with these updated skills and principles, so they can deliver the Professional Responder program courses in a credible and consistent manner, the Canadian Red Cross published a notification titled "Rationale of Content Changes to Professional Responder Program."

Changes to Professional Responder skills and principles outlined in the notice include...        

Chapter 1: The Professional Responder

• Professional Responder Training Levels
• Preceptorship
• Community Paramedicine
• Medical Oversight
• The Professional Responder
• Self-Care
• Legal and Ethical Issues
• Electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCRs)

Chapter 2: Responding to the Call

• Preparing for the Emergency Response
• Managing Hazards athte Emergency Scene
• Psychological Preparation

Chapter 3: Infection Prevention and Control

• Infection Prevention and Control
• Disease-Causing Pathogens
• Epidemics and Pandemics
• Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
• The Body's Natural Defences
• Diseases That Cause Concern
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
• Preventing Disease Transmission

Chapter 4: Anatomy and Physiology

• New Anatomy and Physiology Chapter
• Illustrations
• Agonal Respirations

Chapter 5: Assessment

• Level of Responsiveness (LOR)
• Scene Assessment
• Request Additional Resources
• Primary Assessment
• Spinal Motion Restriction (SMR)
• Pulse Oximetry
• Transport Decision
• Rapid Transport Category
• Patient Positioning
• Last Oral Intake
• Vital Signs - Blood Pressure
• Capillary Refill
• Ongoing Assessment
• Documentation of Findings
• Ongoing Assessment

Chapter 6: Airway Management and Respiratory Emergencies

• Airway Management and Respiratory Emergencies
• Airway Obstruction
• Unresponsive Patient with Absent Breathing
• Respiratory Conditions
• Respiratory Pathophysiology
• Nebulization
• Assisted Ventilation
• Resuscitation Devices
• Using a BVM
• Supplemental Oxygen
• Oxygen Delivery Devices
• Supraglottic Airways
• Nasopharyngeal Airways

Chapter 7: Circulatory Emergencies

• BLS CPR
• Angina
• Cardiac Arrhythmias and Defibrillation
• Compression Fraction / Off-Chest Time
• Team Approach
• Compression Depth - Adult
• Compression Rate
• CPR Summary (Table)
• Chest Recoil
• Defibrillator Care and Maintenance
• Neonatal Resuscitation
• Cerbrovascular Accident (Stroke)

Chapter 8: Shock

• Relocated Chapter
• Types of Shock
• Stages of Shock
• Care for Shock

Chapter 9: Hemorrhage and Soft Tissue Trauma

• Hemorrhage and Soft Tissue Trauma
• Revised Chapter Organization
• Stages of Wound Healing
• Infection
• Dressings and Bandages
• Tourniquets
• Ballistic Injuries
• Open Wounds
• Burns
• Major Soft Tissue Trauma

Lesson 10: Musculoskeletal Injuries

• Upper Extremity Inuries

Lesson 11: Chest, Abdominal, and Pelvic Injuries

• Relocated Chapter
• Types of Chest Injuries
• Care for Penetrating Chest Injuries
• Care for Chest Injuries
• Care for Pelvic Injuries
• Three-Plane Assessment of the Pelvis

Chapter 12: Head and Spinal Injuries

• Injuries to the Brain
• Concussion
• Subarachnoid Hematoma
• Spinal Motion Restriction (SMR)
• Canadian C-Spine Rule
• Standing Take-Down

Lesson 13: Acute and Chronic Illnesses

• Acute and Chronic Illnesses
• Diabetic Emergencies
• Glucagon
• Glucose Tablets
• Status Epilepticus
• Migraines

Chapter 14: Poisoning

• Commonly Misused and Abused Substances
• Bedbugs
• Crowd Management Agents

Chapter 15: Environmental Illnesses

• Environmental Illnesses
• Temperature Homeostasis
• High-Altitude Illness
• SCUBA-Related Illness

Chapter 16: Pregnancy, Labour, and Delivery

• Pregnancy, Labour, and Delivery
• Care and Assessment for the Neonate
• Midwives and Home Births
• Complications During Pregnancy

Chapter 17: Special Considerations

• Special Populations
• Pediatric Patients
• Measles/Mumps
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Geriatric Patients
• Bariatric Patients
• Patients with Disabilities
• Palliative Patients

Chapter 18: Crisis Intervention

• Crisis Intervention
• Psychological Crisis
• Psychosis

Chapter 19: Reaching, Lifting, and Extricating Patients

• Reaching, Lifting, and Extricating Patients
• Gaining Entry into Buildings
• Motor Vehicles
• Bariatric Patients

Chapter 20: Transportation

• Emergency Vehicle Maintenance and Safety Check
• Beginning and Ending a Shift
• Safe Vehicle Operation
• Air Medical Transportation

Chapter 21: Multiple-Casualty Incidents

• Incident Command System
• CBRNE Emergencies

Chapter 22: Pharmacology

• Pharmacology
• Specific Drug Profiles
• Assisting with Medication vs. Administering Medication
• How to Administer Medication Intranasally

Chapter 23: Marine Environment

• Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (MOHS)
• Toxicological Hazards on Board a Ship
• Psychological Well-Being of Seafarers
• Marine Pharmacology

Chapter 24: Workplace

• Workplace First Aid Equipment
• Power Take-Off (PTO)

Appendix & Glossary

• Appendix A - Abbreviations for Documentation
• Appendix B - Sample Ambulance Equipment List
• Appendix C - Phonetic Alphabet
• Appendix D - Medical Terminology
• Glossary has been updated with new terminology
• Index has been significantly updated

                                                   

How to Download the Rationale for Changes

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