Basic Life Support, or BLS, is the first line of response provided to anyone who is going through cardiac arrest, respiratory distress or an obstruction in the airway by the health care providers or the first responders.
It requires knowledge and skills in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), relieving airway obstruction and using automated external defibrillators (AED)
It mainly involves some steps to provide best first line of defense to person having cardiac arrest. Proper training related to this technique is given worldwide to healthcare professionals or aspirants through AHA certified trainers in Universities, Institutes and Hospitals. Important care needs to be taken while performing CPR since every step is crucial and effective if done in proper ways.
BLS mainly follows the letters C-A-B which is used by the American Heart Association to help people remember the order to perform the steps of CPR.
- C:compressions
- A:airway
- B:breathing
Compressions: To Restore blood flow
In this technique, we will use our hands to push down hard and fast in a specific way on the person’s chest. This is the most important step in CPR.
Push vertically down at 90 degree angle on the chest at least 2 but not more than 2.4 inches. Important to use whole body weight when doing compressions. Same exercise need to be performed 30 times before giving two rescue breaths.
Airway: To open the airway
After 30 chest compressions, we need to open the person’s airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Put palm on the person’s forehead and gently tilt the head back. Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.
Breathing: Giving Breathe to the person
This step also called as Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth is seriously injured or is unable to open. Current scenarios suggest performing rescue breathing using a bag-mask called the AMBU bag
- Now two rescue breaths to be given after completing first two steps efficiently. First rescue breath for one second, wait and watch to see if the chest rises.
- If the chest rises, give a second breath.
This whole process to be continued for 10-15 minutes.
SHS students performing CPR.
Sushant University, one of the top universities of Delhi-NCR, offers several courses with various health sector specializations. The students are given practical training and exposure in various techniques, CPR being one such significant training being given time to time.
