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What is Basic Life Support (BLS)?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Basic Life Support (BLS) is basic medical aid which is offered to people before they reach a hospital, or in situations where high-level medical care is not immediately available. Emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other first responders can perform BLS, and people without formal medical training may be able to offer basic life support after taking a workshop to learn the basics. The idea behind BLS is that while it cannot always save a patient, it may keep a patient functioning long enough for more advanced measures to be taken.
The key to basic life support is maintaining the ABCs: airway, breathing, and circulation. When providing basic life support, responders may utilize cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to restart the patient's breathing, if necessary, and they can also provide basic treatment for cuts, broken limbs, and other problems. Often, the goal is just to stabilize the patient, not to provide lasting treatment.
Invasive procedures and drugs are usually not part of basic life support. In BLS training, people learn about a protocol to follow, which starts with securing the scene, and then determining whether or not the patient is responsive. If the patient is unresponsive, a series of steps can be taken to make the patient's condition more stable. BLS providers sometimes carry shortcut cards which list the steps in order, depending on the situation, with specific directions for airway obstructions, hypothermia, and other situations.
Medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and paramedics can provide BLS, since BLS is a very early part of medical training. First responders like police officers and fire fighters are also usually given BLS training so that they can provide assistance at a scene. Lay people can take BLS classes, which last several hours to several days, depending on the level of training involved, so that they can offer BLS. The ability to perform BLS can be especially useful for people who work with the public in environments like schools, gymnasiums, and restaurants.
BLS is not intended to be used alone. If basic life support is being offered to someone in medical need, it should be accompanied by a call to emergency services. The person making the call should be able to provide as much information as possible about the situation and the patient's condition. People do not need to know medical terminology; just telling the operator that the patient appears to have a broken leg, or appears to be bleeding profusely from a particular region of the body, can be extremely helpful. The operator will also want to know if the patient is responsive, and if any life support measures have been taken at the scene.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Paramedics provide basic life support when a patient is en route to the hospital.]()
By: Robert WilsonParamedics provide basic life support when a patient is en route to the hospital. -
![First responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident.]()
By: corepicsFirst responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident. -
![Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are often called upon to administer Basic Life Support (BLS) at the scene of an accident.]()
By: benjaminnolteEmergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are often called upon to administer Basic Life Support (BLS) at the scene of an accident. -
![BLS is designed primarily for healthcare providers who have tools such as AEDs and bag valve masks on hand.]()
By: Photographee.euBLS is designed primarily for healthcare providers who have tools such as AEDs and bag valve masks on hand. -
![BLS training includes a component focused on protecting the rescuer from bloodborne pathogens.]()
By: Thomas PerkinsBLS training includes a component focused on protecting the rescuer from bloodborne pathogens. -
![Medical professionals like doctors and nurses can provide BLS.]()
By: jovannigMedical professionals like doctors and nurses can provide BLS. -
![First responders may be required to participate in regular drills where they apply BLS training to a simulated emergency.]()
By: wellphotoFirst responders may be required to participate in regular drills where they apply BLS training to a simulated emergency. -
![A patient's vital signs are usually taken before they are administered basic life support.]()
By: Tyler OlsonA patient's vital signs are usually taken before they are administered basic life support.
Discussion Comments
@Mor - I just want to point out again that even if you have taken a course in BLS certification, the very first thing you need to do at an accident is call the emergency services. I know that might not be the first thing people will want to do instinctively, but if you head into an accident zone without calling, you might also be hurt and there will be no one to rescue you or anyone else involved.
Which brings up another point. If it's at all dangerous (for example, if there are live wires around) then hold your own safety as paramount. Being a hero before the fire service or police get there isn't going to help if you get yourself into trouble. It will only make their jobs harder.
Finally, if you aren't completely sure how to help someone who has been injured, then leave them alone and don't move them. They might have hurt their spine or have internal injuries and they need to be checked by a professional.
@umbra21 - I was really shocked when I was taught that in order to do CPR right you often have to break the ribs of the person who is receiving it.
But that wasn't really the focus of the BLS course I took when I was in high school. They spent much more time on tending to wounds and keeping the person warm and in the recovery position.
I actually need to take a refresher course because it's been a long time since I took the initial one. And I've heard that the techniques are changed every few years to keep up with cutting edge research. Also I don't know how much I'll really remember.
Everyone should take at least a basic course in first aid training. It's not enough to think you might know what to do because you've seen it in a few television shows or movies. Not only do they often show the wrong techniques, they also usually only show the most dramatic techniques, which are usually only going to be used as a last resort. I mean things like CPR, for example. It actually only rarely saves people who need it, but there are plenty of other things you can learn, like recognizing shock or hypothermia, that could be much more useful.
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