First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Course

Learn how to recognize opioid poisoning, give naloxone, and help reduce stigma. Opioid poisoning is a medical emergency. Knowing what to do can help save a life.

The Canadian Red Cross First Aid for Opioid Poisoning online course teaches you how to recognize the signs of opioid poisoning, respond with confidence, and give naloxone when it is available.

You will also learn how to reduce stigma and care for yourself after helping someone in an emergency.

If you have any questions, please review the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

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Duration

1 hour online*

Price

$30

Prerequisites

This course is for anyone 16 years of age or older who wants to learn how to help during an opioid poisoning emergency.

It is especially helpful for:

• Community members
• Parents, caregivers, and families
• Workplace teams
• Public-facing staff
• Teachers and school staff
• Post-secondary students
• Volunteers
• Outreach and community service workers
• Safety leaders
• People who want to be more prepared

No previous first aid training is required.

Completion

This course is self-directed, allowing you to learn at your own pace by thoroughly engaging with the online materials. Successful completion is achieved by navigating through all training modules in full, giving you total flexibility over your learning experience.

Certification

Certificate of completion of First Aid for Opioid Poisoning by the Canadian Red Cross.

Course Content

• The opioid crisis in Canada
• Reducing stigma: How stigma affects opioid harm reduction activities, how opioid poisoning emergencies can impact all Canadians and how using person-first language reduces stereotypes and promotes respect and dignity.
• Opioid poisoning emergencies: You will be introduced to the concept of an opioid poisoning emergency. You will learn how opioids affect the body, why we use the word “poisoning” instead of “overdose,” and strategies to prevent an opioid poisoning emergency.
• Learn how to access and administer naloxone: This lesson introduces you to the medication and explores its effects. You will learn how naloxone works, how to access naloxone, and how to prepare and administer intranasal and intramuscular naloxone.
• Introduction to CPR: You will learn how to care for a person with opioid poisoning, including an introduction to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 
• Qualities of a helper: You will identify how to use the qualities and skills you have to help in an emergency.
• How to help in an opioid poisoning emergency: Learn how to recognize and provide care for a suspected opioid poisoning emergency. You will be introduced to “Check, Call, Care” and how to monitor the person and the scene while waiting for emergency medical services to arrive.
• Introduction to self-care: You will learn the importance of checking in on your physical, emotional, and mental health after a stressful situation. You will learn how to use the Look, Listen, Link, Live model to maintain your resilience daily and after an emergency.

Guided by opioid harm reduction experts

The First Aid for Opioid Poisoning course was created with the guidance of an advisory council of subject matter experts.

The council included people with lived experience of substance use, their families, and friends (LLEAFF), peers, advocates, and community members. Their guidance supported the creation of a practical, respectful, and grounded online training.

The OHR Advisory Council worked diligently to provide guidance and insights that shaped effective interventions tailored to the needs of underserved populations across Canada. Our advisors brought expertise from various fields, including education, community health, pre-hospital care, and in-hospital care.

The diverse knowledge, perspectives, and qualifications of our team ensured that our learning solutions were accurate, respectful, meaningful, and suitable for our audience of learners.

First Aid for Opioid Poisoning FAQ