Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Why Is It Important to Update Your BLS Skills?
- Who Needs to Recertify in Basic Life Support?
- Renew to Rescue: The Power of Updated BLS Skills
Introduction
Updating your Basic Life Support (BLS) skills ensures you are prepared to help in emergencies like cardiac arrests or choking. Medical techniques and guidelines often change to improve survival rates, and practicing these updated methods helps you stay effective. Regularly updating your BLS skills also keeps your skills sharp and gives you the confidence to respond without hesitation. Being prepared with the latest knowledge and practice could make all the difference when someone’s life is on the line. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why staying current with your BLS training matters.
Importance of Updating BLS Skills
Basic life support skills are important for effective emergency response actions; it ensures you are using the most effective methods in an emergency. Other reasons why BLS skills matters are detailed below:
Improved Patient Outcomes
The first few minutes of an emergency impact a person’s chance of survival. BLS skills are designed to keep patients conscious until medical professionals can take over. Quick action can greatly improve a patient’s chances of survival and recovery, especially in situations like cardiac arrest or choking. A study showed that formal BLS/ACLS training increased the survival rate of hospital discharge from 27.5% to 52.9%. This demonstrates the power of proper training.
Increased Confidence
Regular BLS training boosts your confidence in emergencies. Knowing you are using the most up-to-date techniques helps you act decisively and stay calm under pressure. A calm responder is more likely to make sound decisions and perform procedures effectively. This confidence may also inspire those around you to act quickly and decisively during a crisis.
Enhanced Job Performance
For anyone working in healthcare, staying current with BLS skills is required. Usually, patient care is built around these skills. Staying updated with these skills can help you perform at your job. It could also provide advancement or open new opportunities. Companies usually appreciate employees who show initiative in staying updated with their skills. Your commitment to updating your knowledge shows dedication to your profession and patient care.
Legal and Ethical Obligations
Many professions require valid BLS certification, not just as a formality but as a legal and ethical necessity. First responders, healthcare providers, and even some educators are mandated to maintain current certification. Ignoring this might cause legal problems or job loss. Additionally, it’s a moral obligation to provide the best possible care in accordance with current standards. Staying up-to-date with BLS skills helps you meet both legal and ethical responsibilities
Who Needs to Recertify in Basic Life Support?
Anyone who has completed Basic Life Support (BLS) training should recertify regularly to keep their skills current. BLS is important for people in various fields, especially those who may need to respond to emergencies. Some of them include:
Healthcare Providers
Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and EMTs are required to regularly recertify in BLS. Every day, these experts handle life-threatening situations. For patients, their BLS skills may make all the difference between life and death. Healthcare workers with current BLS certifications are better equipped to handle cardiac emergencies and deliver high-quality care.
First Responders
Firefighters, police officers, and search-and-rescue teams are often the first to arrive at emergency scenes. They need to be proficient in CPR and AED use. BLS recertification ensures that they can deliver vital care before medical professionals arrive. Their fast action can greatly raise a victim’s chances of survival. Ongoing training maintains that first responders are both educated and secure in stressful situations.
Individuals in Emergency-Critical Fields
Many other professions also require BLS recertification. This includes teachers, lifeguards, fitness instructors, daycare staff, security personnel, and some corporate staff. These people may face unforeseen emergencies in their workplace. Up-to-date BLS skills enable them to respond quickly and effectively, potentially saving lives even while advanced medical help is on the way.
Topics to Focus on During BLS Recertification
When you recertify for Basic Life Support (BLS), there are a few main skills you need to review. One of the most important is CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is used when someone’s heart stops, and it can save their life if done correctly. You’ll need to know the right depth and speed for chest compressions on different age groups, like adults, children, and infants. Another skill to be ready for is using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The AED can help revive a person’s heart if it stops working right, so knowing how to use it with CPR is important for increasing their chance of survival.
You also need to be prepared to handle choking emergencies. If someone’s airway is blocked, it’s important to know what to do right away. Learning how to perform the Heimlich maneuver or giving back blows and chest thrusts can help clear the airway and allow the person to breathe again. These skills are all part of your recertification, and staying updated on them is important because emergency procedures can change over time.
Renew to Rescue: The Power of Updated BLS Skills
Keeping your BLS skills up-to-date is important for saving lives. Whether you work in healthcare or are just a concerned citizen, regular updates guarantee you’re ready to respond in an emergency. Update your BLS skills to increase your confidence, satisfy legal obligations, and, most significantly, help others. Don’t wait for an emergency to strike. Check your certification’s expiry date today and sign up for a renewal course!