BLS Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AHA’s Basic Life Support (BLS) Course?
The AHA’s BLS Course provides the foundation for saving lives after cardiac arrest. Reflecting science and education in the 2015 AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC, this course teaches basic life support skills for application in both in-facility and prehospital settings, with a focus on high-quality CPR, improvement of chest compression fraction, and high-performing team dynamics.
The AHA’s BLS Course offers
• Content representing the latest resuscitation science for improved patient outcomes
• Realistic scenarios, simulations, and animations depicting rescuers, teams, and patients
• Course and content flexibility for AHA Instructors and students, including adaptability to local protocols
The AHA’s BLS Course offers
• Content representing the latest resuscitation science for improved patient outcomes
• Realistic scenarios, simulations, and animations depicting rescuers, teams, and patients
• Course and content flexibility for AHA Instructors and students, including adaptability to local protocols
What specifically is taught in the BLS Course?
After successfully completing the BLS Course, students should be able to
• Describe the importance of high-quality CPR and its impact on survival
• Describe all the steps of the Chain of Survival
• Apply the BLS concepts of the Chain of Survival
• Recognize the signs of someone needing CPR
• Perform high-quality CPR for an adult
• Describe the importance of early use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Demonstrate the appropriate use of an AED
• Provide effective ventilation using a barrier device
• Perform high-quality CPR for a child
• Perform high-quality CPR for an infant
• Describe the importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation
• Perform as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
• Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an adult or child
• Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an infant
• Describe the importance of high-quality CPR and its impact on survival
• Describe all the steps of the Chain of Survival
• Apply the BLS concepts of the Chain of Survival
• Recognize the signs of someone needing CPR
• Perform high-quality CPR for an adult
• Describe the importance of early use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Demonstrate the appropriate use of an AED
• Provide effective ventilation using a barrier device
• Perform high-quality CPR for a child
• Perform high-quality CPR for an infant
• Describe the importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation
• Perform as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
• Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an adult or child
• Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an infant
What is chest compression fraction (CCF)?
CCF is the amount of time during a cardiac arrest event that high-quality chest compressions are performed. Improving CCF to achieve the 80% threshold has been shown to increase survival by 200% to 300%.
Who is the intended audience for the BLS Course?
The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare providers caring for patients both in prehospital and in-facility environments.
What does the term “in-facility” mean?
In-facility refers to healthcare providers who work in a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility including a dentist office, skilled nursing, and assisted-living facilities.