Make a Positive Impact in Your Community
The opioid crisis in Canada has taken countless lives, devastating families and communities. Action is needed to help save lives and reduce harm. Opioid Harm Reduction (OHR) programming at the Canadian Red Cross is focused on ensuring as many Canadians as possible are provided with life-saving skills and knowledge, so we can reduce opioid-related deaths and harm across Canada.
Opioid Harm Reduction Leaders play a vital role in the opioid crisis response by increasing Canadians’ access to OHR education and facilitating the distribution of naloxone – a life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the life-threatening effects of opioid poisoning. With a focus on reducing stigma, promoting helping behaviours, and increasing access to life-saving resources like free naloxone kits, OHR Leaders make a tangible difference in the lives of Canadians.
In the Becoming an Opioid Harm Reduction Leader Course you will gain skills, knowledge and resources that will prepare you to deliver the First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies workshop for in-person or virtual delivery. You will build confidence as a leader and learn how to support community members in developing their skills to recognize and respond to an opioid poisoning emergency. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be eligible to facilitate the distribution of free naloxone kits in your community.*
*Open to residents in all provinces/territories, except Quebec.
This Course is Designed For:
Anyone 18 years of age and older with a current Emergency or Standard First Aid and CPR certification. Learners will complete the First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies for Leaders online course as part of the process to become an OHR Leader.
Online Learning Format: Self-Directed
Learn at your own pace by working through the training materials independently online. Duration: 90–120 minutes, depending on the individual.
Example Curriculum
- Introduction
- Course Outline
- The Emerging Crisis
- The Opioid Harm Reduction Project
- Why the CRC Is Involved
- Your Role as an OHR Leader
- The Importance of First Aid Education
- Principles of First Aid
- Qualities of a Leader
- Responsibilities of a Leader
- Assessing Eligibility for Naloxone
- Standards of Behaviour
- OHR Champions
- Summary
- Introduction
- The Facilitator’s Role
- Fundamental Principles in Action
- Co-Facilitation
- Instructional Speech
- About the Learner
- Factors Affecting Learning
- Identify Learning Needs
- Techniques for Facilitation
- Teaching Aids
- Decontamination of Teaching Aids
- Learning a Skill (1:13)
- Tips for Teaching a Physical Skill
- Using Skill Demonstrations
- Creating a Safe Learning Environment
- Personal Pronouns
- Cultural Considerations
- Virtual Facilitation
- Summary
- Introduction
- Introduction to Psychological First Aid
- Types of Stress: Review
- Stress: A Case Study - 1
- Stress: A Case Study - 2
- Burnout
- Compassion Fatigue
- Look, Listen, Link, Live
- What to Look For
- Listen to Yourself: Day-to-Day Stress Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Listen to Yourself: Cumulative Stress Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Link & Live
- Applying the Cycle to Caring for Others
- Helping Responsibly
- Resiliency
- Coping Strategies
- Supporting Yourself and Your Learners
- Summary
OHR Project content is developed with and approved by the CRC Opioid Harm Reduction Advisory Council. To learn more about the Project or the Council, visit www.redcross.ca/OHRadvisory.
This initiative was funded by a contribution from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.