Get “Basic Life Support” Training with BLS Certification
The BLS certification only takes a few hours study with AMA, Red Cross or other medical association. BLS stands for “Basic Life Support.” To obtain the certification you must learn and practice how to revive, resuscitate and sustain someone that is experiencing respiratory failure (of some sort) or cardiac arrest. This would include a person having a stroke or heart attack or is a victim of drowning. You must demonstrate that you know what to do in any case where someone’s breathing or heartbeat have been compromised.
Often a BLS certification is required of anyone that will be working with children, the elderly or as lifeguards, coaches or when working with people regularly who could have any kind of an incident.
What you will learn is basic mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR (where you use chest compressions to get the blood circulating). You will not use any medical equipment so there will be no invasive procedures. In your BLS certification training you will be taught the “ABC’s” which are:
- A = Airway-You learn to clear any obstructions out of the airway
- B = Breathing-you make sure the lungs can fill with air
- C = Circulation-You learn to ensure that blood is circulating throughout the body
Normally you practice the resuscitation on a manikin so you can demonstrate the correct method. You will engage in role-play situations to show how you would respond to a given situation. There is also a written test to take to show you have the basic knowledge of what you do and when you do it. When you can demonstrate the correct procedures when given a situation and pass the written test you will receive your BLS certification.
With your certificate in hand you can start looking for employment where such a certification is required. You can also decide if you want to continue your education toward a degree in nursing. Most people will work a while with just their certification before they decide if they want to go to college for a nursing degree. Some will even decide to attempt to go to medical school in hopes of eventually becoming a doctor.
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