Basic life support is providing oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs by maintaining adequate ventilation and circulation.
BLS includes recognition of signs of sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, foreign body aspiration and airway obstruction.
Steps in BLS
1. Assess the area for danger:
• Check for hazards
eg: equipment falling debris
• Observe for fluid spillage or electricity hazards
2. Check for Response:
• By giving a loud, simple command close to the patient's ear or tactile stimulation of the patient.
• If unconscious (not responding) - call for assistance and proceed with BLS a RISinclude -C - Chest compression
all for assistance and proceed with BLS le - C - Chest compression
A - Airway
B - Breathing
3. Circulation :Provides an adequate supply to tissues especially critical organs, so to deliver oxygen to cells and remove metabolic waste via the perfusion of the blood through out the body.
• Prior to commencing CPR, place the patient supine on a firm surface.
• Palpate the carotid artery (for 10 sec) to assess circulation. If no pulse chest compressions should begin.
• Chest compression land marks:
Locate the sternum and place the hand on the sternum between the nipples in the centre of the chest.
4. Airway:
Maneuvers to reduce the risk of airway obstruction in the conscious or unresponsive patients are
-Head tilt/chin left and jaw thrust to open the airway
• Look for any foreign body, liquids or solids in patient's mouth.
Wipe out any foreign material with a hooked index or middle finger or use suction.
5. Breathing:
- Look, listen and feel to assess for breathing (for 10 seconds).
- Look for chest movements
- Listen for breath sounds
• Reassess head tilt
• Ensure adequate seal.
• Assess ventilation technique
• Check for obstruction
• A resuscitation mask with a non-return valve can be used.
• If no return of signs of life commence CPR. (cardio pulmons.
Note: Normal breathing is a sign of life).
6. Difibrillator (automated external defibrillator)
An Automated External Defibrillator is a portable device that checks
the heart rhythm and if needed can send an electric shock (cardio-version) to the heart to restore normal rhythm.
Used on a person who is having sudden cardiac arrest, when the cause of the cardiac arrest is either ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia Cardio-version helps in restoring the normal cardiac rhythm.
Using an AEDs
1. Move the patient to a dry area (if the patient is near a wet area)
2. Turn on the AEDs power
3. Attach AED pads to the patient
-Expose the chest and pads are placed.
-Do not place pads over pace makers.
-Sternal pad - position the pad to the right of the sternum under the clavicle and above the nipple.
- Apex Pad - position the pad at the intersection of the left anterior axillary line and the 6th intercostal space.
4. Push the button to activate the analyzer and check the heart rhythm.
5. Then stay clear of the patient and press the shock button,
Always make sure that all persons are cleared before discharging
Ensure no water or bodily fluids are causing danger
6. Follow instructions given for the AED usually 'assess', 'stand back', 'shock' and reassess.
7. Immediately give chest compressions along with ventilation, after the shock.
About five cycles or approximately 2 minutes of CPR should be provided after the shock.
7. Pediatric CPR:
For an unresponsive infant or child the rescuer should perform 5 cycles of CPR and then call for help.
If the infant or child has a sudden collapse, then the collapse is likely to be cardiac in origin. In such cases the emergency response should be called
immediately.
*Circulation-
• In a child assess circulation via the carotid or femoral pulse.
• In an infant assess the circulation via brachial or femoral pulse.
• If there is pulse then continue to give 12-20 breaths per minute.
• If no pulse then begin chest compressions.
*Airway-
• Assess unresponsiveness
• Use the head tilt - chin lift to open the airway.
*Breathing-
• If the child is breathing - maintain the patency of
• If the child is not breathing-delivered to initial effective breath and then 12 to 20 breaths per minute.
In infants provide ventilation by mouth to mouth or mouth to nc technique.
With larger child provide ventilation by mouth to mouth.
• With an advanced airway 8-10 breaths per minute are delivere

Chest compression land mark
Child - center of the chest between the nipples
Infant - just below the nipple line
8. Foreign Body Airway Obstruction:
Signs of severe airway obstruction include
-Poor air exchal breathing difficulty 
-Silent cough
-Cyanosis
-Inability to speak or breathe
 adult :Abdominal thrusts are used to get rid of the foreign body
Child and infant : backslap and chest thrusts are used to get rid of foreign body .
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