A–B. Active Living and Movement Competence · Active Living and Movement: Train with Purpose, Play with Strategy

Ready for Anything: Emergency Equipment for Physical Activity

A3.2 1.3 1.5About 70 minutes

Learning goals

I can identify the emergency equipment named in the curriculum and explain what each item is for.
I can describe what belongs in a first-aid kit and how to check it.
I can choose communication and location tools for activities in different settings, and explain their limits.
I can list the safety equipment needed for a canoe or kayak and explain "reach or throw, don't go".

Words to know

AED
Automated external defibrillator: a portable device that checks the heart's rhythm and, if needed, delivers a shock to help restore a normal rhythm.

first-aid kit
A container of supplies for treating minor injuries and caring for someone until help arrives.

GPS
Global Positioning System: uses satellite signals to find your location, often shown as coordinates.

bailer
A scoop used to remove water from inside a canoe, kayak or small boat.

buoyant heaving line
A floating rope that can be thrown to a person in the water and used to pull them to safety.

epinephrine auto-injector
A pen-like device that injects epinephrine (adrenaline) to treat a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Remember from Grade 9

In PPL1O you learned when to call 911, how to stay calm, how to respond to an asthma attack, concussion signs, possible spine injuries, shock, the recovery position, and CPR and AED steps.

Grade 10's expectation A3.2 is about the equipment that makes emergency response possible: what it is, where to find it, and how to make sure it's ready before you need it.

Hook: the tools you hope you'll never use

A rescue is only as good as the tools within reach. A first-aid kit with no gloves, a phone at 2% battery on a winter trail, a canoe with no bailer when it starts taking on water: each turns a manageable problem into a serious one.

People who lead activities (coaches, camp staff, trip leaders, and you) check equipment every time.

What A3.2 asks of you

Identify emergency equipment used in physical activity emergencies. The curriculum's examples:

automated external defibrillator (AED);
first-aid kit;
communication devices (intercoms, walkie-talkies, cellphones);
global positioning system (GPS);
bailer (one per canoe, kayak or boat);
flotation device or reaching pole;
epinephrine auto-injector or asthma inhaler.

The eight kinds of emergency equipment in A3.2 and what each is for. Knowing where each one is before activity starts saves precious time.

AED and first-aid kit

AED: found in many schools, arenas, community centres, fitness facilities and public buildings, often in a wall cabinet with a sign. You learned to use one in Grade 9: turn it on and follow the voice prompts. Before activity, know where the nearest AED is and that it's accessible (not locked in a closed office).

First-aid kit: a typical kit includes:

disposable gloves and a CPR face shield;
gauze pads, adhesive bandages, roller bandages and tape;
a triangular bandage (sling);
an instant cold pack;
scissors and tweezers;
an emergency (foil) blanket;
antiseptic wipes, a pen and notepad, and a first-aid guide.

Check it regularly: restock used items, replace anything expired or damaged, and keep it where everyone knows to find it.

Communication and location

Cellphones: the most common way to call 911. Limits: dead zones on rural trails and lakes, and batteries drain fast in the cold (keep your phone in an inside pocket). Start charged; bring a battery pack on long trips.
Walkie-talkies (two-way radios): work without cell service, good for staying in touch within a group on a ski trail or canoe trip; limited range.
Intercoms: in schools and facilities, they connect the gym or pool to the office so staff can get help and an AED quickly.
GPS: finds your location from satellites, even without cell service (a phone's GPS works offline, but download maps before you go). Being able to tell 911 exactly where you are (coordinates, trail name, nearest marker or address) gets help to you faster.

For remote trips, groups often carry a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon that can send an emergency signal without cell service.

Water: bailers, flotation and reaching

Transport Canada sets the safety equipment that must be on board human-powered boats like canoes and kayaks. In simplified form:

a lifejacket or PFD of the right size for each person;
a buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long;
a bailer or manual water pump;
a sound-signalling device (such as a whistle);
a watertight flashlight or navigation lights if you're out after sunset, before sunrise or in poor visibility.

Some boats have small exceptions, so check Transport Canada's current Safe Boating Guide before you go.

If someone is struggling in the water, remember "reach or throw, don't go": reach with a pole, branch or paddle while you lie down on the dock or shore, or throw something that floats (a ring buoy, throw bag or heaving line). Going into the water yourself without training can lead to two people in trouble.

Required safety equipment for a canoe or kayak (simplified from Transport Canada's list): a PFD or lifejacket for each person, a buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long, a bailer or water pump, and a sound signal such as a whistle.

Reach or throw, don't go. The rescuer lies down to keep a low, stable position on the dock and reaches with a pole. The person in the water grabs the pole and is pulled in.

Medical devices: auto-injectors and inhalers

Epinephrine auto-injector: for anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction (for example, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives with vomiting or fainting after contact with an allergen). Follow the person's emergency plan: use the auto-injector (usually into the outer middle thigh, and it can go through clothing), call 911, and note the time. The person needs to go to hospital even if they feel better.
Asthma reliever inhaler: for asthma symptoms (wheezing, coughing, trouble breathing). The person uses it as their asthma plan says; call 911 if they don't improve.

People with these conditions should carry their own device during activity, and their friends and leaders should know where it is and who it belongs to.

Living skills: communication (1.3) and planning (1.5)

In an emergency, clear communication is a tool too. Point and assign: "You in the red jacket, call 911 and tell them we're at the Ridge Trail, marker 7. You, get the AED from the arena lobby." Planning ahead (charged phone, knowing the location, checking the kit) is critical thinking in action.

Worked example

Let's pack for a class canoe day

A Grade 10 class of 24 students and 3 adults is going on a half-day canoe trip on a lake at a conservation area, in tandem canoes (2 people each). List the emergency equipment needed for each canoe and for the group.

Number of canoes: 27 people ÷ 2 = 13.5, so 14 canoes (one adult paddles with a single student or solo).
Each canoe: a properly fitted PFD or lifejacket for each person, worn at all times; a buoyant heaving line (at least 15 m); a bailer; a whistle; spare paddle.
Group: a first-aid kit in a waterproof bag; a fully charged cellphone in a waterproof case (and check coverage); walkie-talkies for the lead and sweep canoes; a GPS or offline map with the launch site location.
Medical devices: each student with asthma or a severe allergy carries their inhaler or auto-injector in a waterproof pouch, and the leaders know who they are.
On shore: the location of the nearest AED (for example, at the park office), and a reaching pole or ring buoy at the launch.

14 canoes, each with PFDs for everyone, a heaving line, a bailer and a whistle; a group first-aid kit, phone, radios and GPS; personal medical devices; and known AED and reaching-equipment locations.

Worked example

Let's match equipment to emergencies

Which equipment is most needed first? (a) A player collapses in the gym, unresponsive and not breathing normally. (b) A canoe is taking on water from waves. (c) A hiker twists an ankle on a trail with no cell signal. (d) A student stung by a bee has a swollen face and trouble breathing; she has a known severe allergy.

(a) Call 911 (intercom or phone), start CPR, and get the AED immediately.
(b) Use the bailer to remove water and head to shore; everyone is already wearing a PFD.
(c) First-aid kit (cold pack, bandage); use the GPS to get the exact location; a walkie-talkie or a buddy hikes to where there's signal or to the trailhead to call for help.
(d) Her epinephrine auto-injector right away, then call 911.

(a) AED (with 911 and CPR), (b) bailer, (c) first-aid kit plus GPS and a communication device, (d) epinephrine auto-injector and 911.

Hands-on activity

Emergency equipment check at home

You need: your home first-aid kit (or a list to start one), a notebook, a phone, a broom or pole, a rope or towel, and a grown-up.

Kit audit (15 min): with a grown-up, open the first-aid kit and check it against the list in this lesson. Note anything missing, used up or expired. Make a shopping list.
Device check (5 min): if anyone in your home has an inhaler or auto-injector, check where it is kept and its expiry date (with their permission).
Location practice (10 min): on your next walk or ride, practise finding your exact location: open your phone's map, find your coordinates or nearest address, and say it as you would to 911.
Reach practice on dry land (10 min): your partner sits on the floor or grass pretending to be in the water. Lie down on your stomach, reach out with a broom or pole, and have them grab it while you keep your weight back. Then try throwing a rolled towel or rope so it lands within their reach.
Trip list: write the emergency equipment you would bring for a winter ski or snowshoe outing.

Safety: do the reach practice on dry land only, never at real water. Don't open or test auto-injectors; trainer devices (with no needle) are for practice. Handle scissors in the kit carefully.

Your turn

List the emergency equipment named in A3.2.

What does an AED do?

Name four items in a first-aid kit.

Why might a cellphone fail on a winter ski trail?

What is a bailer for?

What does "reach or throw, don't go" mean?

What is an epinephrine auto-injector used for?

More practice: warm-up

What does GPS stand for?

Name a communication device that works without cell service.

How long must a canoe's buoyant heaving line be?

How many lifejackets or PFDs does a canoe need?

Where are AEDs often found?

More practice: on your own

Your group is going snowshoeing in a park with poor cell coverage. Choose three emergency items and explain each.

Why should a rescuer lie down when reaching with a pole from a dock?

During a school basketball game, a player collapses. How does an intercom help?

A student with asthma forgets her inhaler before a cross-country run. What should happen?

List what you'd check in a first-aid kit before a class trip.

Challenge

Plan the emergency equipment for a 3-hour cross-country ski outing for 12 students in January, and explain how you'd handle cold-weather problems with each item.

Compare a cellphone and a walkie-talkie for a group canoe trip: give one advantage and one limitation of each.

A friend tips out of a canoe near shore and is struggling. You're on the dock with a paddle and a throw bag. Describe what you do, step by step, and why you don't jump in.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which device can deliver a shock during cardiac arrest?

A bailer is used to:

Which works without cell service for in-group communication?

"Reach or throw, don't go" means:

An epinephrine auto-injector treats:

Which must each person in a canoe have?

Why keep your phone in an inside pocket on a winter trail?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Expectation A3.2 asks students to identify emergency equipment for physical activity: AEDs, first-aid kits, communication devices (intercoms, walkie-talkies, cellphones), GPS, bailers, flotation devices or reaching poles, and epinephrine auto-injectors or asthma inhalers.

How to help at home:

Audit your first-aid kit together and restock it.
If anyone at home uses an inhaler or auto-injector, show your teen where it's kept and check expiry dates.
Before trips, practise sharing an exact location from a phone map.
If your family paddles, check that your boat has the Transport Canada equipment.

Common difficulties:

Assuming phones always work. Talk about dead zones and cold batteries.
Wanting to jump in to help. Reinforce "reach or throw, don't go".

Note: this lesson has no joke block because it deals with emergencies. A certified first-aid course (offered by recognized organizations in many communities) is a great next step for teens.