CPD – What does Basic Life Support Involve?

You will never know when an emergency is going to occur. It can happen when you are walking in a public space, working in your workspace, or even resting at your home. There are going to be unexpected things that involve other people or even yourself. This is the reason why you need the knowledge and skills of basic life support.

People who are first aiders should know about this technique because it is one of the fundamentals of first aid. This is the best way to save anyone who is experiencing cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, an obstructed airway, or any life-threatening conditions. If you are interested in learning more about basic life support, this course provides you with all necessary information.

What is basic life support?

Basic life support, or BLS, is a technique to recognise and respond to emergencies. There are approaches you need to know and master, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and providing basic airway management and breathing assistance. Also, you need the ability to talk clearly to emergency services when an incident happens.

Performing those basic techniques can sustain someone’s life until professional medical help arrives. For example, there are around 422,000 people in the UK who were diagnosed with heart disease in 2022-2023. However, in every 100,000 cases, 264 people lose their lives. Without this aid, those numbers could be higher because people don’t understand how to provide basic life support.

Course Introduction

The CPD – What Does Basic Life Support Involve course trains the participants to understand more about this procedure. One of the reasons why they need to be trained about this is because, without proper knowledge and skills, it is only adding more risks than helping the person in need. In doing so, they will achieve learning outcomes such as:

1. Spotting life-threatening conditions
2. Responding to the situation
3. Using the correct techniques
4. Understanding and managing risks
5. Improving communication

When an emergency happens, the participants will be in someone’s life or death situation. Learning this method encourages them to make decisions on how to approach this situation. In the end, the participants will have the ability to act confidently and effectively during the emergency while using the correct technique and tools. This can save many people, most importantly your loved ones.

Learning Plan

In this training programme, the participants will know more about life-threatening conditions that can happen to their surroundings. Moreover, basic life support requires them to acquire skills such as CPR or AEDs, which are the most elementary first aid techniques. The participants will learn about managing the risks and how to talk to emergency services during the incident. Therefore, the speaker will talk about:

• Introduction to BLS
• Recognising emergencies
• Using proper techniques and tools
• Special situations in BLS
• Activating the emergency response system

To improve the quality of the course, we are using professionals’ expertise in this field. Also, the learners need to be involved in interactive questions, real-life scenarios, and activities to help them achieve a better understanding. In conclusion, they will have the ability to become responders that provide basic life support in an emergency situation.

Prerequisites

Since there are no requirements, the CPD – What does Basic Life Support Involve course is open to everyone. Generally, this response is important in every kind of environment, such as public spaces, workspaces, households, and medical settings. However, we encourage you to understand first aid and healthcare before you take this course.

Fundamental techniques and tools in basic life support

Before you can do basic life support, there are important techniques and tools you have to master first. The reason is that these are the standard first aids when an incident happens. Usually, BLS is for incidents like cardiac arrest, suffocating, choking, or drowning. For these scenarios, you often need to use CPR or AEDs.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Also known as CPR, it is a procedure performed  if the heart stops beating. This technique can keep the blood flow active, which extends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation until the professional medical staff arrives. With CPR, you can double or even triple your chances of survival after cardiac arrest. In other words, that is one of the main reasons why people use it for basic life support.

Automated external defibrillators

AEDs, for short, are portable medical devices that analyse the heart’s rhythm.  Also, it can deliver an electric shock to assist the heart in the event of cardiac arrest if it is needed. Even though this tool is advanced, it is pretty easy to use. It has clear instructions on how to use it in case of an emergency.

Steps for basic life support assessment

When a life-threatening situation happens, you cannot jump in to do basic life support immediately. There are things you have to be aware of. Firstly, you have to assess your surroundings to evaluate the potential dangers such as debris, shrapnel, or hazardous materials. It helps to ensure the patient, your, and bystanders' safety before starting CPR. 

Next thing, you have to look at the patient carefully. Make sure they have airway, breathing, and air circulation. Also, you need to check for any signs of breathing or a pulse with basic life support knowledge. If the patient is not breathing or has no pulse, you need to start doing CPR immediately. Thirdly, it is important to call the emergency service as soon as possible. Remember to communicate clearly and do not panic in this situation.

Then, if there are any AEDs available, you should use it. Keep in mind that AED is crucial to keep someone alive. Usually, this tool is user-friendly, and it provides voice prompts and visual cues to guide you through the process. You have to follow the instructions carefully and accordingly to ensure the best chance of a successful outcome. Lastly, you have to do CPR if you can’t find an AED.

Be a first aider with the College of Contract Management

In conclusion, emergencies can happen at any time and any place. This is why learning about basic life support is crucial for every person. You might encounter it at home, work, or in public spaces, and you need to respond effectively to  this situation. Your response makes the difference between life and death.

For that reason, the College of Contract Management can help you to become a first aider with the CPD – What Does Basic Life Support Involve course. You will be provided with the necessary knowledge to handle life-threatening situations. Also, there are techniques to help you improve the patient’s chance to survive, like CPR or AEDs.

Ultimately, basic life support will help you contribute to the safety and well-being of your surroundings. You will have the ability to recognise emergencies and manage the risks properly, which can significantly impact survival rates in critical situations. With this knowledge, you will become a valuable first responder who can make a real difference in saving lives.

The CPD – What Does Basic Life Support Involve course is not yet available. We are still waiting for the lecturers’ schedule and material for this training. For instance, there are other courses as interesting as this course on our site that we encourage you to see. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact the CCM team through email.