Basic Life Support training (BLS) is the foundation for saving lives after cardiac arrest. BLS is a set of life-saving techniques taught to healthcare providers and other individuals to respond to cardiac emergencies and other life-threatening situations. 

Establishment and Evolution of BLS

The American Heart Association (AHA) established BLS training and certification for medical professionals in 1973.  While it’s been 50 years, BLS training remains an essential component of healthcare education and emergency response.  The AHA is diligent in maintaining its training courses and continues to review and update its guidelines to reflect the latest advancements in resuscitation science. Some of the updates over the years include:

• 1973: The AHA introduced the BLS program to provide standardized training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for healthcare professionals.

• 1981: The AHA released the first set of CPR guidelines, including BLS recommendations. These guidelines are regularly updated to reflect the latest scientific evidence and advancements in resuscitation.

• 1992: A significant shift occurred when the AHA moved from a skills-based training approach to an outcomes-based approach. The focus was on achieving specific performance objectives during training.

• 2001: The AHA introduced the concept of the Chain of Survival, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated and timely response to cardiac emergencies.

• 2010: The AHA implemented significant changes in the BLS guidelines, including the emphasis on high-quality chest compressions, the simplification of CPR sequences, and the inclusion of automated external defibrillator (AED) training.

• 2015: The AHA continued to refine and update BLS guidelines, emphasizing the importance of early recognition of cardiac arrest, high-quality CPR, and the use of AEDs. There was also an increased focus on team dynamics during resuscitation efforts.

• 2020: The AHA released updated BLS guidelines, incorporating the latest evidence-based recommendations for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. These guidelines often address specific populations, such as infants, children, and pregnant women.

Throughout this history, the AHA has worked to make BLS training more accessible to healthcare professionals and the public.

A Collaborative Effort

While the AHA established BLS training, it collaborates with various organizations and experts in emergency cardiovascular care to ensure that the training reflects the latest scientific research and best practices in resuscitation. Some of the crucial collaborators include:

• International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR): The AHA is a founding member of ILCOR, an international organization that brings together resuscitation councils worldwide. ILCOR reviews and analyzes the latest resuscitation science, and its consensus on treatment recommendations forms the basis for guidelines developed by organizations like the AHA.

• National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP): Collaboration with organizations like NAEMSP helps ensure that BLS guidelines align with the needs and practices of emergency medical services (EMS) professionals.

• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP): Collaboration with ACEP helps incorporate the perspectives and expertise of emergency physicians into the development of BLS guidelines.

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): The AHA collaborates with the AAP to develop guidelines that address the unique needs of infants and children in BLS training.

• American Nurses Association (ANA): Collaboration with nursing organizations, including the ANA, ensures that BLS training is relevant and effective for healthcare professionals in various roles.

• Healthcare Providers and Training Centers: The AHA collaborates with hospitals, healthcare institutions, and training centers to disseminate BLS guidelines and facilitate training for healthcare professionals.

Additionally, the AHA's collaboration extends beyond specific organizations to involve input from healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and other stakeholders. The AHA regularly reviews and updates its guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence and expert consensus, and these collaborations play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and relevance of BLS training.

BLS Curriculum

The training and certification focus on basic life-saving techniques that are essential for the immediate management of cardiac arrest, choking, or other life-threatening situations. It is designed for healthcare providers and individuals who are not healthcare professionals but may need to respond to emergencies in their workplace or community. Techniques covered in the course include:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): CPR maintains blood flow and oxygenation to vital organs when someone's heartbeat and breathing have stopped. The basic steps of CPR involve chest compressions and rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask ventilation).

• Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs): AEDs are portable devices that can analyze a person's heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock, if necessary, to restore a normal heartbeat in case of sudden cardiac arrest.

• Airway Management: Ensuring a clear airway is crucial in providing proper ventilation. Techniques for clearing airway obstructions, such as the head-tilt/chin-lift or jaw thrust maneuver, are taught in BLS courses.

• Rescue Breaths: BLS training covers techniques for delivering rescue breaths, which provide oxygen to a non-breathing or inadequately breathing individual.

• Choking Management: BLS courses include techniques to help choking individuals who cannot breathe effectively. This includes abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) for conscious choking victims and CPR with chest compressions for unconscious choking victims.

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 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 get down on the floor and practice chest compressions and breaths. This means you should wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move around in.

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's BLS courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.  Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a course completion card which is valid for two years.