The American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, or BLS Renewal course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association 2020 Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).
How long is the BLS Renewal Course and what happens in class?
The course is approximately 3 Hours depending on the number of students in the classroom.
You will first watch a video, and then hands on practice what you have learned. This will be repeated until the end of the the video. You will then be tested on your hands on skills and taking a 25 question written test with a passing score of 84% or better. This will complete the requirements for your American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers 2020 card. Cards are in electronic format and will be emailed to the email address you provide in class. Cards are issued within 12 to 24 hours depending on the day of the week. On occasion your will receive your card same day if you take a morning class. If you take a class on Friday, Saturday or Sunday you should receieve your card before noon on the following Monday.
Who should take this course?
The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.
What does this course teach?
- 2020 Updates to Pediatric ventilation rate
- 2020 Updates Using a CPR Coach
- New Link in the 2020 Chain of Survival for Recovery
- 2020 Systems of Care: Using Mobile Devices to Summon Rescuers
- 2020 Cardiac Arrest in Pregnancy
- 2020 Changes to infant compressions using the 2 thumb or heel of one hand technique
- 2020 Changes to correct Life Threatening Bleeding
- How to use a bag mask device for an Adult, Child and Infant
- High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
- The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
- Important early use of an AED
- Effective ventilations using a barrier device
- Importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR
- Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
- The 2020 Guidelines include an opioid-associated resuscitation emergency algorithm for healthcare providers, shown here. A version for lay rescuers is also included in the Guidelines. This algorithm is for both adults and pediatrics.
Is AHA BLS the right course for me?
BLS is geared towards prehospital providers, like EMTs, paramedics, fire fighters, and in-facility hospital providers. This class is for anyone who can resoond to a life threatening emergency such as respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years.
