DEFINITIONS:

1. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT = generally refers to the type of care that first-responders, healthcare providers and public
safety professionals provide to anyone who is experiencing cardiac arrest, respiratory distress or an obstructed
airway. It requires knowledge and skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using automated external
defibrillators (AED) and relieving airway obstructions in patients of every age.
2. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) is a level of medical care which is used for victims of life-threatening illnesses or
injuries until they can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, such
as emergency medical technicians, and by qualified bystanders.
3. BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS). An emergency procedure that consists of recognizing respiratory of cardiac arrest or
both and the proper application of CPR to maintain life until a victim recovers or advanced life support is available.
4. ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS). The use of special equipment to maintain breathing and circulation
for the victim of a cardiac emergency.
5. PROLONGED LIFE SUPPORT (PLS). For post resuscitation and long term resuscitation.

INDICATIONS FOR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

1. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping in a regular rhythm. In this situation, early defibrillation is the key
to returning the victim's heart back to a normal rhythm. When a defibrillator is not readily available, a rescuer or
bystander should keep the blood flowing by performing chest compressions and rescue breaths at an age-
appropriate rate.
2. Respiratory arrest is when there is no measurable breathing in a victim. It tends to occur in conjunction with cardiac
arrest, but this is not always the case. Respiratory arrest is the most common indication of BLS in infants and
toddlers. The most critical factor in restoring breathing in the victim is to provide high quality rescue breaths.
3. In cases of drowning, rescuers should provide CPR as soon as an unresponsive victim is removed from the water. In
particular, rescue breathing is important in this situation. A lone rescuer is typically advised to give CPR for a short
time before leaving the victim to call emergency medical services. Since the primary cause of cardiac arrest and
death in drowning and choking victims is hypoxemia, it is recommended to start with rescue breaths before
proceeding to chest compressions (if pulseless). If the victim presents in a shockable rhythm, early defibrillation is still
recommended.
4. Obstructed Airways - occurs when a foreign body obstructs the trachea. Rescuers should only intervene in victims
who show signs of severe airway obstruction, such as a silent cough, cyanosis, or inability to speak or breathe. If a
victim is coughing forcefully, rescuers should not interfere with this process and encourage the victim to keep
coughing. If a victim shows signs of severe airway obstruction, anti-choking maneuvers such as Abdominal
thrusts should be applied until the obstruction is relieved. If a victim becomes unresponsive he should be lowered to
the ground, and the rescuer should call emergency medical services and initiate CPR. When the airway is opened
during CPR, the rescuer should look into the mouth for an object causing obstruction, and remove it if it is evident.

The American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support Protocol is designed for use by laypeople, as well as students and
other certified first responder, and to some extent, higher medical function personnel, It includes cardiac arrest, respiratory
arrest, drowning and foreign body airway obstruction or choking.

The term basic life support refers to maintaining an airway and supporting breathing and the circulation. It comprises the
following elements: initial assessment, airway maintenance, expired air ventilation ( rescue breathing or mouth to mouth
ventilation) and chest compressions. When all are combined, the term cardiopulmonary resuscitation is used. BLS implies that
no equipment is used; when a simple airway or face mask for mouth-to mask resuscitations is used, this is defined as “basic
life support with airway adjunct”.