BLS — Basic Life Support — Study Guide
Free, topic-by-topic study notes for the BLS — Basic Life Support exam. Read a chapter, then practice it.
High-Quality CPR (Adult, Child, Infant)
High-quality chest compressions are the single most important intervention in cardiac arrest. Blood does not move to the brain and heart unless the compressions are fast enough, deep enough, allow full recoil, and are barely interrupted. The BLS exam expects you to know the exact numbers for adults, children, and infants and to defend why each number matters.
AED Use
Early defibrillation is the definitive treatment for ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and survival falls with every minute defibrillation is delayed. The BLS provider's job is to integrate the AED into CPR with the shortest possible interruption in compressions.
Team Dynamics
Most in-hospital resuscitations are run by a team, and disorganized teams deliver low-quality CPR even when every member is individually competent. The BLS course teaches specific communication behaviors that keep compressions fast, deep, and uninterrupted.
Rescue Breathing & Ventilation
Ventilation restores oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, but too much ventilation is harmful. The BLS exam tests both how to deliver an effective breath and the exact rates for a victim who has a pulse but is not breathing adequately.
Relief of Choking
A foreign-body airway obstruction can kill within minutes, but the response depends on whether the obstruction is mild or severe and whether the victim is responsive. The BLS exam expects you to distinguish these situations and act correctly for adults, children, and infants.
Chain of Survival
The AHA Chains of Survival describe the sequence of actions that give a cardiac-arrest victim the best chance of survival. There are separate chains for out-of-hospital and in-hospital arrest because the resources and first responders differ.
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