Health Tips
Knowledge From a BLS Provider
Dec
BLS Explained:
In the medical field, BLS stands for basic life support, meaning cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. This level of CPR is designed for Healthcare Professionals and Medical Students.
What Types of Emergencies Usually Require BLS?
BLS is most common used during emergency situations. This includes, a patient suffering from cardiac arrest, suffocation, or drowning. Being trained in basic life support can give you the opportunity to save a life, and when it comes to emergency situations, every minute counts.
What To Do If You Encounter Someone Who Isn’t Breathing?
- Stay calm
- Call emergency services or 911
- Start CPR
- Stay with the patient and wait for emergency services to arrive
Performing CPR on a patient who is no longer breathing can increase the chance of survival. When performing CPR, this helps maintain high blood flow to the brain, and heart. Unfortunately, about 90% of cardiac arrest victims die before ever reaching the hospital. In many circumstances these patients could have had a chance of living if someone were able to perform CPR within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the emergency. About 32% of patients who have received proper CPR treatment, survive; however, the statistics are still very grim when patients experience an emergency like cardiac arrest, outside of a hospital.
If you become certified in BLS, then you can be prepared to deal with these types of emergencies should they arise. CPR is an invaluable skill, and even if you aren’t in the medical field, it is never a bad idea to learn how to perform it on others.
HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.
