It makes sense that medical healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, EMTs, and physician assistants would be required to take Basic Life Support (BLS) training and be certified. However, other professions may be less obvious but benefit from and are sometimes required to complete BLS training and certification, like firefighters, police officers, dental assistants, lifeguards, and beach patrol officers. While many of these professions complete CPR/AED training, a BLS certification will take you to the next level. Check out our blog on the nuances between CPR/AED and BLS courses and certifications.
The American Heart Association's Chain of Survival is a series of critical steps that, when followed in order, maximize the chances of survival for individuals experiencing a cardiac arrest. The four "BLS components" of the Chain of Survival are:
Early recognition and activation: The first component involves recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest and promptly activating the emergency response system. It is crucial to identify when someone is experiencing a cardiac emergency and to call for help immediately. This step ensures that the appropriate medical personnel and resources can be mobilized quickly.
Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): The second component emphasizes the importance of early CPR. CPR combines chest compressions and rescue breaths that help circulate oxygenated blood to vital organs until advanced medical care arrives. Initiating CPR early can maintain blood flow and oxygenation, improving the chances of survival.
Early defibrillation: Early defibrillation is the third component of the Chain of Survival. It involves using an automated external defibrillator (AED) to deliver an electrical shock to the heart to restore its normal rhythm. AEDs are portable devices trained individuals can use to analyze a person's heart rhythm and, if necessary, administer a shock to restore a normal heartbeat. Prompt defibrillation is crucial in ventricular fibrillation or certain types of life-threatening arrhythmias.
Early advanced care: The final component emphasizes the importance of early advanced care provided by healthcare professionals. Once the emergency response team arrives, they can provide more advanced medical interventions and critical care to the individual. These interventions include administering medications, advanced airway management, and other specialized treatments to stabilize the person's condition and increase the chances of survival.
Here's how these components are covered in a BLS course:
High-Quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
A BLS course will cover the different CPR techniques used depending on the age of the individual in distress. A different protocol is required when CPR is performed on children and infants. While adults tend to need CPR for cardiac incidents, children and infants need it to respond to respiratory failure or poisoning. Also, because infants' bodies are more fragile than adults, CPR requires you to use your fingers instead of the palm of your hand to do chest compressions.
Also, specific performance metrics are also associated with high-quality CPR instructed in a BLS course:
Chest compression fraction >80%
Compression rate of 100-120/min
Compression depth of at least 50 mm (2 inches) in adults and at least 1/3 the AP dimension of the chest in infants and children
No excessive ventilation
Early use of an AED
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient's heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is needed, and then administer a shock if needed. Audible and/or visual prompts guide the user through the process. When a victim experiences sudden cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm, every minute counts; every minute a victim goes without defibrillation, the chances for survival decrease by 7%-10%.
Effective ventilations using a barrier device
A CPR mask, officially known as a barrier device, keeps you, the rescuer, safe while performing ventilations, or rescue breaths, as part of CPR. A barrier device is one type of personal protective equipment designed to protect rescuers from exposure to infection when in close contact with victims. BLS training will cover the usage of these barrier devices as part of the performance of high-quality CPR.
Importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR
Team dynamics are important when multiple rescuers are trying to save a life. If it improves your chances of saving a life, accept all the help you can get. Resuscitation times are tense, which might lead to emotions getting out of hand. So, it's important to be calm and composed. When many people are in a team, it's important to let them know what to do when needed. Effective team dynamics with an emphasis on effective communication, including:
Clear Messages
The person assigning a task or communicating (in the case of CPR, the team leader giving an order) must do so clearly and concisely. The message should be distinct and calm, not rushed
Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Before you start a resuscitation, always assign a "clear role" to each team member. As a team member, if you are given a role you are not competent enough, you should let the team lead know and ask for another role. Do not take a new role by yourself.
Closed Loop Communication
In closed-loop communication, the person receiving instruction or information repeats it to ensure the message is understood correctly, and the sender confirms to "close the loop." It does not require more time, and in fact, it is likely to save time.
Know Your Limitations and Ask for Assistance Early
Team members, including the team leader, should ask for assistance or advice before the situation gets out of hand. Knowing your limitations will apply in any team environment. It is vital to know one's limitations and then ask for assistance when needed. The AHA recommends this as an important part of teamwork in CPR.
Knowledge Sharing
The AHA teaches that – "team leaders should ask for ideas for a differential diagnosis…" and frequently seek observations from team members for possible oversight. Getting contributions from everyone on the team gives you the best chance of coming up with the real problem, so you can treat the cause of the problem and help the patient. We can all learn from someone else's knowledge and experiences.
Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
Choking is a common preventable cause of cardiac arrest. The correct response for a choking person depends on the degree of airway obstruction, whether the person is responsive, and age. For adults, BLS training will teach using abdominal thrusts to attempt to remove the obstruction. Infants will be instructed to use back blows/ chest thrusts for obstruction removal.
Some Events That May Require BLS
Professions that expose individuals to these situations would greatly benefit from the skills and techniques learned in BLS training.
Cardiac arrest: This is the most common reason for the need for BLS. It is a sudden loss of heart function, which can occur due to various reasons such as heart attack, drowning, electric shock, etc.
Choking: When a person's airway is obstructed by food, objects, or other materials, it can cause them to choke, and their breathing may stop. BLS can be used to remove the obstruction and restart their breathing.
Suffocation: Suffocation can occur from smoke inhalation, gas leaks, or being trapped in small spaces. BLS can help restart their breathing and sustain their life until professional medical help arrives.
Drowning: When submerged in water, a person cannot breathe, and their heart may stop beating. BLS can be used to help restart their breathing and revive them.
Severe allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause a person's airway to become blocked and their heart to stop beating. BLS can help open their airway and sustain their life until professional medical help arrives.
Drug overdose: When someone takes too much medication or drugs, it can cause them to stop breathing, and their heart may stop beating. BLS can help restart their breathing and sustain their life until professional medical help arrives.
Trauma: When someone experiences a severe injury or trauma, it can cause them to stop breathing or their heart to stop beating. BLS can help restart their breathing and sustain their life until professional medical help arrives.
BLS Training at ACLS Academy
ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Aligned Training Center with three convenient locations in Massachusetts – Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center. Our Basic Life Support (BLS) training is a blended learning course, including an online portion and a hands-on skills session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor. The instructors are medical professionals or highly trained individuals who will coach you through each step of the lifesaving process. The skills session can take approximately 1-2 hours. As with any learning environment, BLS provider classes have the equipment to teach you the basics, from AED training devices to CPR manikins. BLS certification courses require hands-on activity, so prepare to practice chest compressions and breaths. This means you should wear comfortable clothes you can easily move around in.
Sign up here for ACLS Academy's BLS courses, or contact us for questions or additional information. Upon completing the course, you will receive a course completion card valid for two years.