Basic Life Support Training: Essential Skills for Emergencies
Basic Life Support (BLS) training is an essential skillset for healthcare professionals and other personnel who might encounter life-threatening situations. As experts in this field, we understand the importance of being well-versed in techniques to maintain an individual's life during medical emergencies that require immediate intervention. Our focus is on providing up-to-date, accurate information to ensure that those who complete our
BLS training are confident in their abilities to perform crucial life-saving actions in various situations.
The core of BLS training revolves around administering high-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants, as well as addressing other essential cardiovascular life support skills Basic Life Support (BLS). Our courses are designed to accommodate both in-facility and prehospital settings, targeting healthcare providers and individuals who may come across emergencies that demand swift and competent action. With a strong foundation in BLS, our trainees are empowered to make a notable difference in times of crisis, ultimately saving lives and improving patient outcomes.
BLS Training Components
CPR
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is an essential part of any Basic Life Support (BLS) training course. In this section, we'll focus on the fundamentals of CPR for adults, children, and infants. Firstly, we'll discuss the proper hand placement, depth ofcompressions, and speed at which compressions should be given. For adults and children, we place our hands on the centre of the chest, while for infants, we use two fingers on the chest, just below the nipple line.
We'll then cover the all-important recovery position, which helps protect the airway from obstruction. We'll also emphasise the importance of early activation of emergency medical services and the critical role that quality CPR plays in improving patient outcomes.
AED
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator, a portable electronic device that helps save lives by identifying and treating life-threatening cardiac arrythmias. In our BLS training, we will teach you how to recognise when an AED is needed, as well as the proper use of this lifesaving equipment.
We'll discuss essential topics such as the correct placement of electrode pads on adult and paediatric patients, the importance of following the prompts provided by the AED, and how to deliver a shock safely. Additionally, we'll highlight the need for uninterrupted CPR between shocks and explain the significance of early defibrillation in increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.
First Aid
The First Aid component of our BLS training course will cover a wide range of life-saving skills and techniques applicable to various medical emergencies. We'll teach you how to recognise and assess the severity of different life-threatening situations and provide appropriate first aid interventions.
Our first aid module includes essential skills such as wound care, bandaging, splinting, and the management of fractures. We'll also discuss how to manage common emergencies, such as choking in adults, children, and infants, and how to handle allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector.
In summary, our BLS training encompasses CPR, AED, and
First Aid skills that will aid you in responding effectively during emergencies. With a combination of clear instruction and hands-on practice, we aim to empower you with the confidence and knowledge to save lives.
Emergency Cardiovascular Care
We believe that understanding emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) is essential for anyone in the field of Basic Life Support (BLS) Training. The primary goal of ECC is to address and managelife-threatening cardiovascular conditions, such as cardiac arrest, that may occur unexpectedly.
Emergency cardiovascular care focuses on the Chain of Survival. This concept consists of a sequence of critical actions that, when implemented promptly and effectively, will increase the chances ofsuccessful resuscitation for a person experiencing cardiac arrest.
The Chain of Survival involves:
Recognising the emergency and activating the emergency response system
Performing high-quality CPR
Rapidly deploying an automated external defibrillator (AED)
Providing advanced life support
Implementing post-cardiac arrest care
Cardiac arrest, a sudden loss of heart function, can occur without warning signs and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. When a person suffers from cardiac arrest, prompt intervention is crucial to prevent brain damage and death. As a result, BLS training that encompasses ECC principles is crucial for healthcare professionals and others who may need to respond to such emergencies.
In summary, emergency cardiovascular care is a critical component of Basic Life Support Training. It ensures that healthcare professionals and other relevant personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies, such as cardiac arrest. By focusing on the Chain of Survival and mastering these steps, we can significantly improve the chances of survival for individuals experiencing these emergencies.
BLS Class and Students
As we teach Basic Life Support (BLS) classes, our main focus is to equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond promptly and effectively to various life-threatening emergencies.
Our BLS classes are designed for healthcare professionals, nurses, physicians, as well as EMS professionals and other public safety personnel. We understand the importance of tailoring the course to match the different needs of our students, hence, we offer a variety of course options. These include blended learning and traditional classroom training, all covering the same essential AHA science-based skills and providing a BLS Course Completion Card at the end.
During the course, students will learn high-quality chest compressions, appropriate ventilations, and early use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). We emphasise the use of problem-solvingand critical thinking in real-life scenarios, ensuring that our students gain practical experience in handling emergencies. This scenario-based approach notonly makes the training more engaging but also enhances the retention of thematerial.
To ensure our students master the techniques, our classes are divided into a mix of theoretical lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice. We maintain a conducive learning environment with a manageable class size, allowing us to provide personal attention to each student. This helps us oversee their progress and ensure they grasp the concepts and techniques efficiently.
Our BLS classes are designed to give students confidence in their abilities to respond to emergencies. By the end of the course, they will have the essential skills to provide basic life support andimprove patient outcomes in various emergency situations.
Intended Audience
This basic life support course is ideal for all healthcare and social care experts who interact with adults in both clinical and non-clinical capacities, within the NHS, private healthcare, and community settings, such as:
- Doctors (locums included)
- NHS & agency nurses
- Allied health professionals
- Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)
- Health and social care aid workers
- Staff of nursing and residential care homes
It's also suitable for anyone who wishes to get a better understand of first aid.
This module can be pursued individually or as part of our broader mandatory training courses.
Objectives of the Course
The course is intended to:
- Equip participants with the knowledge and proficiency to identify and respond to symptoms of clinical deterioration.
- Clarify the legal provisions and current guidance from the Resuscitation Council (UK) on essential life sustenance.
Learning Goals
Upon completing this module, participants should be able to:
- Recognise signs of clinical deterioration in adults.
- Understand the appropriate reaction to suspected cardiac arrest.
- Learn the methods to open a collapsed adult’s airway.
- Develop the skills to commence and sustain effective chest compressions and rescue breaths.
- Understand the principles of DNACPR.
- Accurately document and communicate details of an emergency event.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be equipped to:
- Identify and address cases of clinical deterioration or cardiorespiratory arrest, intensifying care as per local policy.
- Initiate correct emergency responses, including managing choking and applying the recovery position.
- Operate an automated external defibrillator (AED) securely and appropriately.
- Understand the significance of performing resuscitation interventions within personal capabilities and prior training.
Course Contents
- Introduction to Essential Life Sustenance (ELS)
- The relevance of ELS
- ELS survival chain
- Significance of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) system
- DRSABC methodical approach to CPR
- Effective chest compressions and rescue breaths
- Importance of continuous CPR
- Understanding when to cease CPR
- Recovery position application
- Managing airway obstructions
- Introduction to AEDs
- Resuscitation Council (UK) AED algorithm
- Adult and paediatric BLS algorithms by Resuscitation Council (UK)
- Organisational and individual responsibilities for CPR
- Local delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- DNAR orders
- Additional information sources on adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Why is this Course Crucial?
Understanding that the aim of delivering essential life sustenance is to preserve life until professional medical help arrives, especially in cases of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, is crucial for healthcare and social care professionals.
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