Basic Life Support

This course is available in an eLearning course with classroom practical assessment (recommended) or can be taken entirely in the classroom.

Description

The American Heart Association offers both classroom-led and eLearning courses to provide complete, flexible training solutions. While classroom training is completed on a single day, eLearning training is conducted mostly on the student’s schedule, at their own pace, followed by an in-person practical assessment with an AHA Instructor after the online portion is completed. Whether the student chooses classroom-led or eLearning curriculum, the practical assessment teaches skills with the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback, and guide the students’ learning of skills. Thereafter the instructor will evaluate the student’s skills and offer a course completion card to students who pass the skills testing requirements.

Course Content

  • Describe the importance of high-quality CPR and its impact on survival

  • Describe all of the steps of the Chain of Survival

  • Apply the BLS concepts of the Chain of Survival

  • Recognize the signs of someone needing CPR

  • Perform high-quality CPR for an adult

  • Describe the importance of early use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

  • Demonstrate the appropriate use of an AED

  • Provide effective ventilation using a barrier device and bag valve mask

  • Perform high-quality CPR for a child

  • Perform high-quality CPR for an infant

  • Describe the importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation

  • Perform as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR

  • Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an adult or child

  • Describe the technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an infant

Required Student Materials 

eLearning: The student manual is provided with the online course; it does not need to be purchased separately.

Classroom: Purchase the Provider Manual or eBook. We do not stock books for purchase.

Course Format and Exams

eLearning: This course uses a variety of eLearning assets — such as dramatizations, eSimulations, animations, self-directed learning, and interactive activities.  Students must pass the online exam with a score of 84% or higher before attending a structured Instructor-led classroom session that focuses on meaningful skills practice, debriefing, team scenarios, discussions of local protocols, and skills testing.

Classroom: The classroom course is a video-based, Instructor-led course where students participate in simulated clinical scenarios and learning stations. During the course, students work with an Instructor to complete the skills practice and skills testing.  At the end of the course, students must pass the BLS written exam with a score of 84% or higher. Please note that students are allowed to reference the BLS manual during the BLS Provider exam.

Course Completion Card

After successful completion of the course, students will receive an American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard, valid for two years.