SJA tech course in the GTA

[lemurmommies]

After reading here that St. John's Ambulance are the ones that give the tech courses here in Canada, I've found that they are offered every month in Mississauga! Woo hoo! I'm hoping that someone might be able to answer two questions I have about the course, though.

One, does anyone know how quickly the classes fill up? It looks like the one in June would be a good fit for me schedule-wise. Do I need to sign up now?

And two, how much practical installation time do you get with the course? The description says that the course includes participation in a car seat clinic. Is this counted in the class hours?

Thanks!

[hipmaman]

Hi,

I volunteer with Mississauga SJA. So I can help.

Because our classes are opened to anyone that can travel there, the classes fill up quickly, especially spring and summer ones. So if the June one works for you, then just sign up now for apot.

The practical installation is a half day, scheduled in with a public carseat clinic where there are real-life installations but also with more experience techs, instructors, etc. And if I recall correctly, it's part of the 2-day curriculum.

I hope you will volunteer with us after completing your course as techs are always needed.

[lemurmommies]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'll register for a class as soon as I can - I might have to wait for pay day to arrive.

And I hope to volunteer a lot once I take the course. I'd love to make sure that more kids are riding around in safe, well-installed carseats.

Another question. Once I have taken the course and am certified, can I offer to do a carseat check for the employees/users of a private business? Say, if a school or doctor's office was interested in having a car seat check for the families that use these facilities?

[lemurmommies]

Well crud, I think it might already be full! I'll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure (since th office is already closed for the day), but when I tried to submit my info for registration it gave me a message saying that either the class was full or the dates of the class had changed.

I hope they have a waiting list! I'm so sad thinking that I might have to wait until August to take the class... it's really surprising that Mississauga is the only GTA location offering the course with any regularity. If I want to take it in York Region (where I actually live), I'd have to wait until October!

[hipmaman]

Another question. Once I have taken the course and am certified, can I offer to do a carseat check for the employees/users of a private business? Say, if a school or doctor's office was interested in having a car seat check for the families that use these facilities?

Hi,

SJA will only insure your work when you are working at an SJA clinics or one that SJA participates in (but organised by someone else).

If you choose to 'freelance' or going into private service, you can of course do it, if you think you have enough experience to do it (especially on your own w/o the back up of other techs or check-off by sr. techs or instructors), but make sure that the private business you work with has insurance so you would not going to be sued or liable for something later on.

[hipmaman]

it's really surprising that Mississauga is the only GTA location offering the course with any regularity. If I want to take it in York Region (where I actually live), I'd have to wait until October!

Mississauga SJA is where 'civillian' carseat tech course started (in a pilot program for national certification and opened to lay-folks like us in 2003) and a lot of techs, instructors, trainers, etc. came out of the program there. It is also possible that the many instructors here are more available (dedicated bunch).

[lemurmommies]

Thanks for the information Tam. I'll give the Mississauga SJA a call today to find out if the class is indeed full. I hope I can get in! I'd love to have some credentials to back me up when I tell my friends that their carseat isn't installed properly if they've just hooked the LATCH hooks on their carseat through the tongues on their belt buckes.

[lemurmommies]

Thanks for the information Tam. I'll give the Mississauga SJA a call today to find out if the class is indeed full.

Yay! I got in to the class. I'll be a tech come June. Hooray! :thumbsup:

[Shanora]

Ok that means I need to actually call the lady back and pay for the spot in June....LOL...Other wise I will have to wait until I get to Edmonton to take my course,....Gonna do that tomorrow!!

[lemurmommies]

Ok that means I need to actually call the lady back and pay for the spot in June....LOL...Other wise I will have to wait until I get to Edmonton to take my course,....Gonna do that tomorrow!!

When I called this morning, I was told that there's actually a lot of room left. The message I got seems to be some sort of standard one given by the computer when you submit your info online. But I'd do it soon. It seems like the weekend courses fill up more quickly than those during the week.

[Shanora]

Well I just called, and I'm booked for the 7th and 8th of June. LOL....I'm excited!

[lemurmommies]

Well I just called, and I'm booked for the 7th and 8th of June. LOL....I'm excited!

Fun! See you there!