0
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT CLASS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Basic Life Support class for Healthcare professionals
In an emergency, those first responses can be the crucial steps to saving someone's life, which is why everyone should take a basic life support class. When someone is choking or experiencing cardiac arrest, that time between the incident occurring and emergency services arriving is pivotal in the recovery of the individual.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is a primary first response procedure that can buy that valuable time before the arrival of paramedics. Whilst the certification course is designed for aspiring healthcare providers, anybody can benefit from learning these skills if they sign up. Taking a Basic Life Support (BLS) Course can make a huge difference to everyone around you and be a that big step towards a healthcare career. We are going to go through what a BLS course involves, and why you should sign up for one at a local training center.
Basic Life Support Classes and What is Basic Life Support Training?
BLS is a form of medical aid that first-responders, public safety professionals, and healthcare providers provide. The term 'basic life support' aptly describes the level of medical care involved in the training: it is the essential procedure to keep people alive until they have full access to medical treatment at the hospital. It focuses on securing proper circulation and clear airways until more specialist treatment can be administered. Not only do emergency services need this but also professionals such as teachers, health and social care workers, or maybe even security personnel.
The certification course is more developed than CPR training; including CPR training to the guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA) but with the additional use of specialist hospital equipment such as an automated external defibrillator (AED). BLS certification is a prerequisite for applying for a job as a healthcare provider: aspiring EMTs, physician assistants, respiratory therapists all have to be accredited to fulfill their roles.
What do Basic Life Support Classes Cover?
A BLS class will focus on the four main elements of basic life support: initial assessment, airway maintenance, expired air ventilation (mouth-to-mouth; rescue breathing), and chest compressions. Different providers cover various topics, but most BLS classes tend to cover:
- CPR/ECC to American Heart Association guidelines.
- Using AED for adults, children, and infants.
- Managing airway obstruction.
- Responding to opioid overdoses.
- Rapid assessment and visual survey of emergencies.
In addition to teaching the physical responses to emergencies, a BLS course develops your mental approach to administering aid. To quickly assess and survey someone you need to have finely honed critical thinking skills - being able to consider all possibilities and quickly decide on the most effective solution. By developing your knowledge of the emergency medical services system and legal considerations, you can effectively choose the best way forward in an emergency.
BLS courses differ in length depending on whether you opt for an instructor-led session or blended learning. An AHA-accredited blended learning course is broken into two sections: 1 to 2 hours of online training and another 1-2 hours long practical skills session. The length varies according to the experience and prior skill set of the student. Blended learning can be quicker and more flexible to your own commitments.
The instructor-led BLS classroom course takes around 4 and a half hours to finish, including a skills practice and skill testing. This can be slower than online but is best for those who benefit from learning in a classroom environment, allowing you the opportunity to be more practical and hands-on. As the BLS provider course completion card is valid for two years, there is also an option to take a BLS renewal course which takes roughly 3 hours.
Why are classes important?
For aspiring healthcare professionals, these classes are not only important but are an essential aspect of training. Upon successful completion of the BLS course, you will receive a BLS Provider Course Completion Card which is valid for two years. This is proof of your accreditation and shows your current or prospective employers that you have these core medical skills. For pre-hospital providers such as paramedics and firefighters, this vital training means that they can deliver that crucial medical assistance before getting to the hospital.
Also, whilst many people are trained in general first aid or CPR, it takes specialized training to use the AED correctly. A study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation showed that those suffering from cardiac arrest in a public setting are twice as likely to survive if an AED was utilized before the emergency services arrived. CPR alone is useful but the additional ability to use medical equipment can make a huge difference to public safety.
Go ahead and find your perfect course at a local training center, and take the opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life!
About Us
We are a nonprofit that trains and certifies in Lifeguarding, Waterfront Lifeguarding, Junior Lifeguarding, Shallow Pool Lifeguarding, Sexual Harassment Training, CPR/AED, CPR for Lifeguards, First Aid Emergency Oxygen, and swimming lessons.
Quick Links
Contact Info
© Copyright American Aquatics and Safety Training. All Rights Reserved