Article posted on September 9, 2025
MFR program recognized by the Canadian Red Cross
The Medical First Response (MFR) program has received it's second Top National In-House Training Provider award for 2024 in its role to facilitate medical training in Alberta.
“It's such an honour to be recognized two years in a row in providing quality instructor and student training to MFR groups throughout Alberta,” said John Hein, paramedic strategist for the MFR program. "Our goal has been to develop a pool of instructors within the MFR agencies themselves, to provide just in time training for both new and estabilished members of each service. Some of our instructors are teaching over 12 courses per year, not only to their Fire Department but often the County or community as well."
The MFR program has participated in various ways throughout the years to increase medical training to all corners of the province.
“In 2017 AHS EMS opened a contract with Red Cross to use their training platform to teach their courses to our MFR Partners. With this we began training instructors to teach standard first aid who in turn would teach fire department members,” Hein explained.
Some of those instructors trained in the early days of the MFR program have gone on to achieve higher levels of instructor certification, and are now teaching advanced first aid, basic life support and health care provider-level courses. The program has evolved over the years, and now the MFR program supports training in other ways.
“To assist with the cost of training delivery, AHS covers the administrative cost per student by paying Red Cross for each class that is completed. We also assist the instructors with their renewal training and registration costs,” said Hein.
The MFR program also administers annual funding which can be used to cover the cost of developing new instructors and for the medical training of MFR members up to the primary care paramedic scope.
“This recognition from the Canadian Red Cross highlights one of the training supports available to MFR partners and prepares first responders to provide basic life-saving interventions. We are grateful for the opportunity to share this prestigious award with our partners across the province,” said Blaine Barody, manager for the MFR program.
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 09, 2025