BLS Provider Manual
BLS Provider Manual
Table of Contents
Unit One: General Concepts of Basic Life Support....................................................................... 4
Delivering the Most Up-to-Date Guidelines Available.............................................................................................................. 4
BLS Manual Updates At-A-Glance: 2020 to 2025...................................................................................................................... 5
Initiating the Chain of Survival.................................................................................................................................................... 6
References...................................................................................................................................... 23
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Pediatric Chain of Survival........................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 2: In-Hospital Adult Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3: Outside-of-Hospital Adult Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival.................................................................................... 6
Figure 4: BLS Adult Algorithm...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 5: BLS CPR Algorithm........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Figure 6: BLS Infant and Child Algorithm................................................................................................................................. 10
Figure 7: BLS Rescue Breathing Adult or Child Algorithm..................................................................................................... 14
Figure 8: Child AED Placement.................................................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 9: Adult AED Placement.................................................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 10: BLS AED Algorithm................................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 11: BLS Choking Adult or Child Algorithm.................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 12: Abdominal Thrusts in a Child ................................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 13: Abdominal Thrusts in an Adult............................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 14: Choking in Infants..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 15: BLS Choking Infant Algorithm................................................................................................................................. 21
Figure 16: Suspected Opioid Poisoning Algorithm................................................................................................................. 22
List of Tables
Table 1: BLS Manual Updates At-A-Glance: 2020 to 2025........................................................................................................ 5
Table 2: Differences in BLS for Adults and Children............................................................................................................... 11
Table 3: Differences in BLS for Children and Infants.............................................................................................................. 11
Table 4: Rescue Breathing......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Table 5: Compression to Breath Ratios with/without Advanced Airway............................................................................. 13
Table 6: Adult and Child Airway Obstruction........................................................................................................................... 17
Table 7: Infant Airway Obstruction........................................................................................................................................... 20
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For adult victims it is critical that the Adult Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival is initiated quickly and performed
effectively. The Adult Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival has been updated to include a different response whether the
cardiac arrest takes place inside or outside of the hospital.
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One-Rescuer CPR
Once the assessment is complete and you have determined that the victim is not responsive, does not have a pulse,
and is not breathing, it is important to start CPR.
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• Send the second person to activate EMS and retrieve an AED if one is readily available. At the same time, the
first rescuer begins CPR.
• When the second rescuer returns, have them prepare the AED for use. The first person continues CPR, counting
compressions aloud.
• When the AED is open and ready, continue CPR while applying the pads.
• Stop CPR to allow the AED device to analyze the victim’s cardiac rhythm and to provide shocks, if needed.
• The second rescuer ensures that the victim’s airway is open then gives 2 rescue breaths, each lasting 1 second.
• The rescuers should switch positions every 2 minutes (5 cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths) to ensure
compressions do not become ineffective due to fatigue.
• Whenever an advanced airway (tracheal tube or supraglottic device) is inserted during CPR, providers should
perform continuous compressions with positive-pressure ventilation (without pausing chest compressions).
1. Perform 30 chest compressions between 2 and 2.4 inches (5 to 6 cm) deep at a rate between 100 and 120 per
minute.
2. Seal the mask against the victim’s face by forming your hand in a “C-E” shape and pressing down on the top and
bottom edges of the mask. The thumb and index fingers form the “C” while the other three fingers form the “E.”
3. Unless you think the victim may have a neck injury, open the airway using the head tilt/chin lift.
4. If you suspect the victim may have a neck injury, open the airway using a jaw thrust.
5. Give 2 breaths, each over 1 second, that cause the victim’s chest to rise.
Many rescuers feel uncomfortable or unable to provide mouth-to-mouth ventilations. Because of this they hesitate
to perform CPR. Simply providing chest compressions to someone in cardiac arrest is better than not helping at all.
In fact, if ventilations cannot be delivered properly and/or in a timely manner, rescue time is better spent delivering
chest compressions only. Compression-only CPR is recommended for rescuers who cannot or will not deliver
ventilations.
The large majority of cases of pediatric arrest are due to pulmonary issues rather than cardiac problems. When
possible and appropriate, it is better to deliver ventilations than compressions only. Nevertheless, if the rescuer of a
pediatric victim cannot or will not give ventilations, compression-only CPR is better than not helping at all.
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BLS for children and adults are very similar, but there are differences. The differences are:
Likewise, there are differences between BLS for children and infants. The differences are:
• As soon as it is determined that the child is not breathing and responsive, the second rescuer should
immediately activate the EMS and find an AED.
• As soon as another rescuer arrives, change the compression to ventilation ratio from 30:2 to 15:2 (i.e., give 2
breaths after every 15 compressions).
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Child Ventilation
Adult masks should not be used for small children. If the mask covers the eyes or chin of the child, it is too big,
and ventilations will not be optimal. Breaths for a child will typically not be as deep as for adults but should still be
administered over 1 second and should result in a visible rise of the child’s chest. Unless a neck injury is suspected,
open the airway using the head tilt/chin lift technique. If a neck injury is suspected, open the airway using a jaw
thrust.
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Rescue Breathing
Early recognition of, and intervention for, respiratory distress may prevent deterioration into cardiac arrest. During
assessment, if the victim has a strong pulse but has ineffective breathing, open the airway using the head tilt/chin
lift technique and begin rescue breathing.
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Ventilation
If a mask or advanced airway is not available, be ready to provide mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing during CPR.
Avoid over-ventilation, which can fill the stomach with air and prevent proper lung expansion.
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• If the infant is small enough, the rescuer can cover the infant’s nose and mouth with their mouth and create a
good seal. It is not necessary to pinch the infant’s nose.
• Be aware that an infant’s lungs are very small so a smaller volume of air will be necessary to inflate the infant’s
lungs. Every breath should still be given over 1 second, but with less volume.
If the AED has pediatric pads and a pediatric attenuator, use them for an infant or child less than 8 years old. If
pediatric pads are not available, adult pads can be used as long as they are applied so that they do not touch each
other. Typically, you will see an adult/pediatric attenuator switch. If this switch is not available, deliver an “adult”
shock.
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If an infant less than 12 months old is choking but responsive, provide back blows and chest thrusts to relieve an
obstruction.
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References
1. Kleinman ME, Goldberger ZD, Rea T, et al. 2017 American Heart Association Focused Update on Adult Basic Life Support
and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2018;137(1):e7-e13. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000539
2. Olasveengen TM, de Caen AR, Mancini ME, et al. 2017 international consensus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and
emergency cardiovascular care science with treatment recommendations summary. Circulation. 2017;136(23):e424-e440.
3. Atkins DL, de Caen AR, Berger S, et al. 2017 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Basic Life Support
and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2018;137(1):e1-e6. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000540
4. Duff JP, Topjian A, Berg MD, et al. 2018 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Advanced Life Support: An
Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Circulation. 2018;138(23):e731-e739. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000612
5. Panchal AR, Berg KM, Kudenchuk PJ, et al. 2018 American Heart Association Focused Update on Advanced Cardiovascular
Life Support Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs During and Immediately After Cardiac Arrest: An Update to the American
Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation.
2018;138(23):e740-e749. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000613
6. Duff JP, Topjian AA, Berg MD, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Advanced Life Support:
An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Circulation. 2019;140(24):e904-e914. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000731
7. Duff JP, Topjian AA, Berg MD, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Basic Life Support: An
Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Circulation. 2019;140(24):e915-e921. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000736
8. Duff JP, Topjian AA, Berg MD, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Basic Life Support: An
Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1). 10.1542/peds.2019-1358
9. Duff JP, Topjian AA, Berg MD, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Pediatric Advanced Life Support:
An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1). 10.1542/peds.2019-1361
10. Escobedo MB, Aziz K, Kapadia VS, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Neonatal Resuscitation: An
Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular
Care. Circulation. 2019;140(24):e922-e930. 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000729
11. Panchal AR, Berg KM, Cabanas JG, et al. 2019 American Heart Association Focused Update on Systems of Care: Dispatcher-
Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Cardiac Arrest Centers: An Update to the American Heart Association
Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2019;140(24):e895-e903.
10.1161/CIR.0000000000000733
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