What is BLS?
If you’ve ever been involved or interested in the health industry, then you have probably heard dozens of acronyms, and it’s kind of hard to keep up with all of them. From CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) to EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), there are several of them in the medical world. BLS is another one of those acronyms, and it stands for Basic Life Support.
When is it Used?
BLS is performed on patients in emergency situations prior to reaching the hospital. It may not always save the patient, and is not necessarily designed to do so, but it often keeps the patient alive long enough to reach the ER. This procedure is often performed by EMTs in the emergency vehicle during the transporting process, or first-responders on the scene. Once in the ER, it is up to the emergency medical staff to give the patient more intense and involved medical attention to save his life.
What’s Involved?
During BLS, it is important to be mindful of the ABCs: airway, breathing, and circulation. This means making sure that the patient is able to breathe, so giving him oxygen is very important. Also, the blood needs to continue to circulate and pump to the heart to keep him alive. Often, CPR is done and repeated during the transporting process. In addition, BLS involves basic treatment for cuts, bruises, or any broken bones. This doesn’t mean setting the broken bone, but more so creating a makeshift splint so the damage does not further progress.
Certification Classes
BLS training is offered to just about everyone who needs to be certified in order to do their jobs. This includes those working with the elderly or with children, or people who are in the healthcare field. During training, these people learn the basic skills and what to do during an emergency situation. Students in the class learn CPR and how to perform the ABCs of BLS.
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