Introduction

The Basic Life Support (BLS) course has evolved over the years to make it more accessible to the general public and more effective for cardiac arrest patients. The most common cause of cardiac arrest for the adult population is ischemic heart disease that is untreated, resulting in arrhythmias. Well-trained BLS providers can intervene early and possibly prevent death associated with sudden cardiac arrest.

The elements of BLS are:

• Initiating the chain of survival as soon as a potential problem has been identified
• Starting prompt, high-quality CPR for any patient
• Providing early defibrillation with an automated external defibrillator (AED) when one is available
• Initiating rescue breathing when respirations are inadequate
• Performing BLS as a team
• Understanding emergencies associated with opioid abuse
• Relieving a choking episode