Basic Life Support Course
The BLS course is designed to provide a wide variety of healthcare professionals the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. Des Moines University is authorized as a Training Center for the Basic Life Support Program by the American Heart Association.
Target Audience
Healthcare professionals who need to know how to perform CPR, as well as other lifesaving skills, in a wide variety of in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings.
Objectives
- Achieve American Heart Association, (AHA) Healthcare Provider Certification
- Define the term 'Basic Life Support'
- Explain the importance of early CPR
- Consider the potential risks involved in a resuscitation attempt
- Know how to recognize a victim who has collapsed and is in need of assistance and carry out a standard assessment of the victim
- Recall the basic steps of 1 and 2 rescuer CPR for adults, children and infants
- Outline the modifications that may be required in technique when resuscitating a infant or child
- Consider the use of simple airway adjuncts such as a Face Shield or Pocket Mask
- Describe the sequence of steps involved in treating an adult who is choking
- Understand why the recovery position may be used and describe how to safely place a victim into the correct position
- Explain the importance of early defibrillation
- Recall the basic steps for use of an AED
- Recall the basic steps to relieve choking for responsive and unresponsive victims over 1 year of age and for infants
- Explain the importance of each link in the adult and pediatric Chain of Survival
Instructor
Shelley Oren, MS
Simulation Center, Des Moines University
Professional Need
The publication of the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care marks the 50th anniversary of modern CPR. In 1960 Kouwenhoven, Knickerbocker, and Jude documented 14 patients who survived cardiac arrest with the application of closed chest cardiac massage. That same year, at the meeting of the Maryland Medical Society in Ocean City, MD, the combination of chest compressions and rescue breathing was introduced. Two years later, in 1962, direct-current, monophasic waveform defibrillation was described. In 1966 the American Heart Association (AHA) developed the first cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines, which have been followed by periodic updates. During the past 50 years the fundamentals of early recognition and activation, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early access to emergency medical care have saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. These lives demonstrate the importance of resuscitation research and clinical translation.
The scientists and healthcare providers participating in a comprehensive evidence evaluation process analyzed the sequence and priorities of the steps of CPR in light of current scientific advances to identify factors with the greatest potential impact on survival. On the basis of the strength of the available evidence, they developed recommendations to support the interventions that showed the most promise. There was unanimous support for continued emphasis on high-quality CPR, with compressions of adequate rate and depth, allowing complete chest recoil, minimizing interruptions in chest compressions and avoiding excessive ventilation. High-quality CPR is the cornerstone of a system of care that can optimize outcomes beyond return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Return to a prior quality of life and functional state of health is the ultimate goal of a resuscitation system of care.
The recommendations in the 2010 Guidelines confirm the safety and effectiveness of many approaches, acknowledge ineffectiveness of others, and introduce new treatments based on intensive evidence evaluation and consensus of experts. These new recommendations do not imply that care using past guidelines is either unsafe or ineffective. In addition, it is important to note that they will not apply to all rescuers and all victims in all situations. The leader of a resuscitation attempt may need to adapt application of these recommendations to unique circumstances.
A universal compression-ventilation ratio of 30:2 performed by lone rescuers for victims of all ages was one of the most controversial topics discussed during the 2005 International Consensus Conference, and it was a major change in the 2005 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. In 2005 rates of survival to hospital discharge from witnessed out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) were low, averaging ≤6% worldwide with little improvement in the years immediately preceding the 2005 conference.5 Two studies published just before the 2005 International Consensus Conference documented poor quality of CPR performed in both out-of-hospital and in-hospital resuscitations. The changes in the compression-ventilation ratio and in the defibrillation sequence (from 3 stacked shocks to 1 shock followed by immediate CPR) were recommended to minimize interruptions in chest compressions.
There have been many developments in resuscitation science since 2005 including:
- Emergency Medical Services Systems and CPR Quality
- Documenting the Effects of CPR Performance by Lay Rescuers
- CPR Quality
- In-Hospital CPR Registries
- De-emphasis on Devices and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Drugs During Cardiac Arrest
- Importance of Post–Cardiac Arrest Care
AOA CME Credit for Standardized Life Support Courses
The following standardized life support courses including provider, refresher and instructor will be awarded AOA Category 1-A CME credit up to a maximum of 8 credits per three year cycle. The remainder of the credits for the standardized courses will be awarded Category 1-B CME credit up to the limits as indicated in the table below.
Basic Life Support (health care provider)
- Provider - 4
- Refresher - 4
- Instructor - 8
Credit will be awarded for successful completion of an eligible standardized life support course as per the above table. Online standardized courses will be awarded CME credit for the practical part only.
Continuing Education Credit
- DO: Des Moines University is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and approves this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AOA Category 1-A credit(s).
- MD: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Iowa Medical Society (IMS). Des Moines University (DMU) is accredited by the IMS to provide continuing medical education for physicians. DMU designates this live activity for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
- DPM: Des Moines University (DMU) is approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education as a provider of continuing education in podiatric medicine. DMU has approved this activity for a maximum of 1.0 continuing education contact hour(s).
- Nurse: Des Moines University is Iowa Board of Nursing approved provider #112. This live activity has been reviewed and approved for 1.2 continuing education contact hour(s). No partial credit awarded.
- Other: This live activity is designated for 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
- 1.00 AOA Category 1A
- 1.00 CE Contact Hour(s)
- 1.00 CPME
- 1.20 IBON