Sharon has 21+ years of experience as a qualified Emergency Care Nurse registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and 12+ years as a First Aid Trainer.
She takes pride in FirstAidPro making first aid training available, comprehensive and affordable to everybody.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is your emergency toolkit for life’s unexpected medical moments. It’s about providing that crucial first aid to someone in need, keeping them stable until emergency medical services arrive. From cardiac arrest to severe bleeding, BLS covers the essentials.
Key here is emergency life support – think quick action like assessing the situation, performing CPR, and managing shock. These skills aren’t just for healthcare professionals; they’re for anyone willing to step up in a crisis.
And if you’re keen to learn, especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), check out this course at cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It’s about being prepared, being informed, and maybe, just maybe, being someone’s hero when it matters most.
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Understanding Basic Life Support
Basic life support (BLS) is a set of life-saving techniques that can be performed by anyone with basic knowledge and skills. It involves providing immediate care to a person who is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as cardiac arrest or choking. The goal of BLS is to maintain the person’s airway, breathing, and circulation until emergency medical care is at hand.
Role and Importance of Basic Life Support
Basic life support plays a critical role in saving lives. When a person experiences a medical emergency, every second counts. The timely administration of BLS can significantly increase the person’s chances of survival. BLS is especially important in cases of cardiac arrest, where every minute without CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) reduces the person’s survival rate by 10%. In fact, the American heart Association estimates that the timely application of CPR increases survival rates by 40% or higher when a cardiac arrest occurs.
Chain of Survival Concept
The chain of survival is a concept that outlines the key steps in providing effective emergency care. The chain consists of four links: early recognition and activation of the emergency response system, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care. Each link is critical to the person’s chances of survival.
To provide effective BLS, one must have the knowledge and skills to recognise a medical emergency, provide immediate care, and activate the emergency response system. Confidence is also important, as it allows the responder to remain calm and focused during a stressful situation. By learning BLS, individuals can gain the confidence and skills needed to save a life in an emergency.
Key Basic Life Support Skills
Basic Life Support (BLS) is a set of skills that can be used by anyone, regardless of their medical training. The most important BLS skills include performing CPR, managing airway obstruction, and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Performing CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a technique used to manually pump blood through a person’s body when their heart has stopped beating.
At Firstaidpro we teach and recommend the DRSABCD protocol for CPR. DRSABCD stands for Danger, Response, Send, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
The following DRSABCD Action plan will help you to understand and remember these potentially life saving steps:
Using Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a tool designed to administer an electrical shock to the heart of an individual, with the aim of reestablishing the heart’s regular rhythm.. AEDs are designed to be used by non-medical personnel and are often found in public places such as airports, shopping centres, and schools.
To use an AED, the rescuer must first turn the device on and then follow the instructions provided by the device. This typically involves placing the device’s electrodes on the person’s chest and allowing the AED to analyse the person’s heart rhythm before delivering a shock if necessary.
Responding to Specific Emergencies
In emergency situations, it is important to respond quickly and effectively. Knowing how to handle specific emergencies can make all the difference in saving someone’s life. Here are some guidelines for handling common emergencies:
Handling Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can range from mild to severe, with some cases leading to anaphylaxis. If someone is experiencing an allergic reaction, it is important to identify the allergen and remove it from the person’s environment. If the person has an EpiPen, help them use it. If not, call for emergency medical care immediately.
Dealing with Choking
Choking and airway obstruction can be life-threatening.
In Australia, basic first aid involves specific steps to help a person who is choking:
- For adults and children over 1 year, perform choking first aid by trying to keep the person calm and asking them to cough. If coughing doesn’t work, deliver up to 5 back blows and up to 5 chest thrusts until help arrives.
- For babies under 1 year, lay the baby face down on your forearm with their head lower than their body, supporting their head and shoulders on your hand. Give up to 5 sharp blows to the back between the shoulders with the heel of one hand. After each blow, check if the blockage has been cleared.
If the person is unconscious, call for emergency medical assistance immediately and begin CPR.
Managing Shock
Shock can occur as a result of severe injury, illness, or emotional trauma. Symptoms of shock include pale, cool, clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, and shallow breathing. If someone is experiencing shock, lay them down and elevate their feet. Cover them with a blanket to keep them warm and call for emergency medical assistance immediately.
In addition to these specific emergencies, it is important to know how to perform bleeding control. Accredited first aid training teaches how to apply pressure to the wound and elevate the affected limb if possible. Knowing how to handle these emergencies can make all the difference in saving someone’s life.
Training and Certification in Basic Life Support
Basic life support (BLS) training is essential for anyone who wants to be prepared to respond to medical emergencies. By learning BLS skills, individuals can provide life-saving interventions to people suffering from cardiac arrest, allergic reactions, choking, and other life-threatening conditions.
Choosing the Right Course
Basic Life Support (BLS) training is a fundamental skill set for anyone preparing to respond to medical emergencies. This essential training equips individuals with the ability to offer the kinda of life-saving interventions we have been discussing as well as many others.
Nationally Recognised Training Courses
To be proficient in BLS, it’s crucial to undertake nationally recognised training that not only imparts vital skills but also awards a statement of attainment upon completion.
Courses like HLTAID011 Provide First Aid are designed to meet these requirements. They are aligned with the first aid guidelines set by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies.
These comprehensive courses are suitable for a variety of participants, from community members to professionals in workplaces, especially those in an education and care setting. Completing nationally recognised training will ensure a broad and effective application of these crucial skills.
What Will I Learn in a Certified Training Course?
Courses such as HLTAID011 Provide First Aid cover a wide range of competencies necessary for effective emergency response. These include assessing emergency situations, ensuring safety for all involved, and performing CPR in accordance with ARC guidelines. Accredited first aid training also delves into respectful and consent-based treatment of casualties, the use of first aid resources and equipment, and maintaining communication with emergency services.
In addition, the training encompasses reviewing incidents to recognise psychological impacts on rescuers and others, contributing to essential debriefing. It prepares individuals to manage various emergencies, from anaphylaxis and asthma to different types of bleeding and shock.
The practical and knowledge aspects of these courses are comprehensive. They include managing unconscious and non-breathing casualties, performing CPR on adults and infants, and using an AED effectively. Participants also learn about potential hazards, risk minimisation, infection control, and legal considerations in providing first aid.
For those looking to embark on this valuable journey of learning and certification in Basic Life Support, first aid training offers a pathway to becoming certified, capable, and confident in handling life-threatening situations effectively.
In Conclusion
In wrapping up, Basic Life Support (BLS) isn’t just about learning techniques; it’s about being ready to make a critical difference when it matters most. From managing cardiac arrests to responding to allergic reactions and choking incidents, the skills acquired through BLS training are invaluable. They empower you to step up confidently in emergencies, providing essential care until professional help arrives. With courses like HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, you’re not just learning first aid; you’re preparing to be a lifesaver.
This comprehensive training covers everything from CPR to using an AED and dealing with various emergencies, ensuring you’re equipped to handle a wide range of situations. Whether you’re a community member, a professional in a workplace setting, or someone involved in education and care, these nationally recognized courses provide you with the expertise and accreditation needed to respond effectively.
So, if you’re ready to take on this vital role, enroll in a first aid course with Firstaidpro. And for more insights into the responsibilities that come with these skills, check out this informative blog article on duty of care first aid. Your journey towards becoming a confident first aider starts here.
