Definition of a BLS Certification

BLS is a level of medical care that is used for patients until full medical care can be administered. BLS is comprised of a series of steps that need to be followed in order to assist people in an emergency medical situation. Most people can receive certification to administer BLS after a short class.

What Is BLS?

BLS stands for Basic Life Support. It is a set of life-saving techniques that can be used to treat cardiac arrest, choking or drowning victims in the pre-hospital stage.

Certification

Although usually BLS is performed by health care professionals such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), laypeople can be certified to administer BLS after taking a short class. Police and other first responders are usually required to have BLS certification.

Certification Locations

The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association websites both have lists of locations where you can go to get BLS Certified (see Resources).

CPR and BLS

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important skill in BLS. CPR was first demonstrated to be a sound technique for treating cardiac arrest in 1954 by Dr. James Elam.

Benefits

According to Steve Quincey, a BLS Instructor and educator, CPR provided immediately after cardiac arrest can double a victim's survival rate.

Resources

• American Red Cross
• American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Provider Course information