One thing every health care professional should have is basic life support, or BLS, certification. At Aceso Institute, we offer an AHA-approved BLS class that teaches you how to recognize and resolve life-threatening situations that require BLS intervention. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect from this course.
AHA Chain of Survival
One of the first steps in saving lives is being able to identify an emergency. Our class covers the American Heart Association (AHA) chain of survival, which includes:
- Recognizing cardiac arrest and activating the emergency response system
- Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including chest compressions and ventilation
- Rapid defibrillation (with an AED)
- Advanced resuscitation
- Post-cardiac arrest care
- Recovery (which includes additional treatment, observation, rehabilitation and psychological help)
Knowing and recognizing the chain of survival can greatly improve the chances of survival and recovery, particularly for people suffering from cardiac arrest.
CPR Training
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used to help someone who is no longer breathing or whose heart has stopped beating. When executed properly, CPR first aid can help with several medical emergencies, including:
- Heart attack
- Near-drowning event
- Electrocution
- Sudden collapse
- Drug exposure
CPR is incredibly helpful, and it can dramatically increase the chances of survival for someone in need of life-saving interventions. In our basic life support courses, we teach students how to skillfully perform CPR in a way that improves patient outcomes.
Types of CPR
When administering CPR, it’s important to adjust your methods depending on the patient’s size. The process also differs depending on whether you’re working alone or in a group. In our classes, you can expect to learn the following:
- Adult/child CPR training
- Single-rescuer CPR
- Team-based CPR
Our comprehensive training helps you prepare for virtually all emergency situations that may require CPR.
Chest Compressions and Ventilation
The combination of compressions and ventilation can be an effective way to provide life-saving aid to someone in need of interventions in an emergency situation. Our first aid classes cover every step required for CPR, including:
- Recognizing when a patient isn’t breathing
- Checking airways
- Delivering rescue breaths
- Delivering chest compressions
- Timing breaths with chest compressions
In addition to proper CPR, health care providers should know how to use a bag/valve/mask (BVM) device if necessary. By pumping oxygen into the body, these tools deliver oxygen for the person, making them essential for patients who can’t breathe on their own. In our class, you’ll learn how to properly and safely use these tools in life-or-death situations.
CPR/AED Training
One of the most useful tools you can use is an automated external defibrillator. or AED. Believe it or not, this small device can restore a heart rhythm during cardiac arrest. Considering that over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year, it’s essential that health care workers know how to use one.
Oftentimes, AED goes hand-in-hand with CPR first aid. In some cases, the presence of an AED can be the difference between life and death. According to the American Red Cross, for every minute that an AED isn’t used, the chance of survival for a cardiac arrest patient goes down by 10%. Our classes teach people how to use an AED, and they focus specifically on early use.
Choking Assistance
One of the most basic life support skills is being able to resolve a choking situation. Over 5,000 people across the United States choke to death every year, and knowing how to safely free an airway of an obstruction is key to saving lives.
Choking happens when a foreign object gets stuck in the windpipe or throat, blocking the airway. There are different methods for saving a person who’s choking, and our classes focus on the various techniques approved by the American Heart Association that may be used to help someone in need.
Aceso Institute: Sign Up for BLS Classes Today
There’s no doubt that basic life support (BLS) classes are essential for any health care provider. Of course, to effectively deliver life-saving techniques, it’s important that you learn from professionals. At Aceso Institute, we pride ourselves on providing a high-quality, affordable education taught by experienced instructors. Some amenities we offer include:
- Online programs
- Flexible tuition options
- Up-to-date protocols and procedures
All our courses are designed and reviewed by nurses, and our BLS class is approved by the American Heart Association. After course completion, you’ll be eligible for AHA BLS certification. Develop your skills and help save lives by signing up for our class today!
