You may have heard of CPR, which is short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and have an idea of how it is performed. However, you may be unfamiliar with BLS, which stands for Basic Life Support, and how it differs from Heartsaver CPR. At Health Counseling Services, we offer a range of American Heart Association courses, including Heartsaver CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR to properly train individuals in various walks of life with life-saving skills.
What is Heartsaver CPR?
CPR is a procedure designed to save the lives of people whose hearts have experienced cardiac arrest. The process of CPR involves blowing air into the lungs of the victim and performing compressions on the chest to keep oxygenated blood circulating through the body until emergency services arrive. Providing CPR also improves the probability that the heart of the victim will respond favorably to defibrillation.
Some professions may require or advise you to become certified in CPR. However, anyone can obtain CPR certification.
What is Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR?
BLS is a higher level of CPR, usually provided by professionals including healthcare providers, paramedics, and other first responders. Practitioners administer BLS to victims in cardiac arrest or respiratory distress until they are able to receive medical care at a hospital.
Persons certified in BLS have the knowledge required to evaluate the victim’s condition and perform airway maintenance, which is not something the average person has the training and certification to do. This is why BLS is tailored toward individuals who have prior medical knowledge or toward current medical professionals.
What’s the Difference Between Heartsaver CPR and BLS Certification?
BLS certification training includes the teaching of CPR. However, it is more in-depth, as it is geared toward medical professionals. BLS training will typically cover team and single-rescuer life support and saving skills, how to evaluate an emergency, what precautions to take, and legal issues to consider when delivering life-saving care.
For most individuals not in the medical professions, Heartsaver CPR certification is generally enough to administer life-saving care in schools, offices, and other similar environments. Healthcare practitioners may also obtain certification in BLS.
For information about the Heartsaver CPR and BLS training opportunities we offer at Health Counseling Services, call us today at 612.345.8522 or send us a message through our contact form.