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Many illnesses cause life-threatening emergencies, and medical professionals do what they can to save the victim before it is too late. Medical professionals provide Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) as supportive treatments for cardiac arrest patients and victims with severe injuries. At Quick CPR, we believe that the goal of BLS and ACLS is to learn life-saving medical techniques that help address cardiac arrest emergencies more effectively. A common question for most people who enroll in our CPR classes is: what is the difference between the two supportive treatments?
Essential Life Support (BLS) involves life-saving skills like pulse checks, CPR, and rescue breaths without chest compressions. BLS is usually performed by medical professionals who have attained BLS certification, like physicians, doctors, paramedics, nurses, first responders, and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). It incorporates specialized equipment like bag valve masks and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs).
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) requires healthcare professionals to use algorithms to treat severe conditions like heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, coronary syndrome, and other emergencies. ACLS further incorporates the interpretation of the patient's heart rhythm using an electrocardiogram to decide on effective treatment options.
People provide ACLS with the knowledge and skills to place advanced airways and insert IO or IV lines to administer medications or fluids. They are also required to have a deep understanding of available medications used to treat various heart conditions they encounter.
One of the main differences between these supportive treatments is the phase of treatment. BLS is used to treat illness and injuries in the first phase, helping the patient until they receive the rest of the treatment. On the other hand, ACLS is used by doctors to furnish therapy for stroke, cardiac problems, and other life-threatening medical emergencies. Once a person acquires their BLS certification, it is advisable to proceed with ACLS training, especially if they are medical practitioners.
Another significant difference between BLS and ACLS is the curriculum. Healthcare providers and first responders like police officers and firefighters undergo training to perform essential life support functions. Quick CPR offers personalized BLS certification training to help individuals learn basic life-saving skills that can be used when dealing with cardiac arrest emergencies. It is also recommended for other professions like teachers, lifeguards, daycare workers, coaches, etc. We take the time to ensure you can effectively revive, resuscitate, and sustain victims until help arrives.
ACLS certification is similar to BLS in that it involves the process of learning techniques and skills necessary to address advanced cardiovascular emergencies. It focuses on how to increase the patient's survival rate by maintaining neurological function during cardiovascular events such as heart attacks. ACLS training covers Basic Life Support, recognizing and managing respiratory and cardiac arrest, how to lead a resuscitation team, advanced airway management, and ACLS pharmacology.
Obtain your ACLS and BLS certification by reaching out to the professionals at Quick CPR and enrolling in the most personalized programs. Talk to our representative and schedule a consultation before signing up for a certification course.
