Dr Savva Chara
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS)
Your First Essential Skill as a
Clinician
27/11/2025
OBJECTIVES
WHAT IS BLS?
• Basic Life Support, defines sequences of procedures performed to
restore the circulation of oxygenated blood after a sudden pulmonary
or cardiac arrest until they can be given full medical care at a hospital.
• It focuses on the A – B –C (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) or, most
recently changed into C – A – B sequence.
WHY BLS IS CRUCIAL?
RECOGNITION: When to Start CPR
Suspect cardiac arrest and start CPR when a person is:
- Unresponsive
- Has absent or abnormal breathing
DO NOT WASTE TIME CHECKING FOR A PULSE!!!
TWO BARRIERS:
- Agonal breathing – slow, laboured, abnormal breathing
- Seizure-like movements
PRIMARY SURVEY APPLIED
• Danger - check surroundings and approach when safe
• Response – ‘Are you okay?’
• Airway – Head-tilt / Chin lift manoeuvre / Jaw Thrust – unobstructed
airway
• Breathing – Look at the chest rising and falling – No more than 10
seconds
• Circulation – Pulse?
START CPR
Danger –Assess scene safety
• Assess to make sure the scene is safe for you to respond to the down
patient.
Response
Shake the shoulder and speak to the
adult asking
ARE YOU ALRIGHT?? Look at the
chest and torso for movement and
normal breathing simultaneously.
Airway
• Head-tilt / Chin lift
manoeuvre
• Jaw Thrust alternative
manoeuvre
Breathing
Look , Listen and Feel for
NORMAL breathing
Look at the chest rising and falling –
less than 10 seconds
Do not confuse agonal breathing
with NORMAL breathing
Call for Help!
• Call 112 and
• Start CPR at the
same time
START CPR!
High-Quality Compressions: The Vitals
• Lower half of the sternum – in
the centre of the chest
• Use the heel of your hand
• Depth: at least 5cm but no more
than 6cm
• Rate: 100-120/min, few
interruptions as possible
• Complete chest recoil
• Firm surface whenever possible
High-Quality Chest Compressions
• Press hard and fast
• Deliver 30 chest compressions
• Allow for full chest recoil with
each compression
• Allow for only minimal
interruptions to chest
compressions
Airway & Breathing: The 30:2 Cycle
• Rescue Breaths with a
barrier device
• 30 compressions:2 rescue
breaths
• If you are unable to provide
ventilations, give
continuous chest
compressions
Rescue breaths
• Pinch the nostrils for mouth-
to mouth breathing – MAKE
A SEAL
• Each rescue breath should
last approximately 1 second.
• Watch for chest rise.
• Allow time for the air to
expel from the patient
AED: The Crucial Electrical Component
• Survival drops by up to 10% with
each minute delay
• AEDs are safe
• Has the ability to detect irregular
heart rhythm and it automatically
delivers a defibrillation shock to
stop irregular heart beat and
allow a normal rhythm to resume.
CLEAR!!!
• Turned on AED without delay and follow
instructions
• If not alone, continue CPR while AED is
applied
• Ensure nobody is touching the victim during
- AED rhythm analysis
- Shock delivery
IMMEDIATELY RESTART CPR
ROLE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
It can save more lives!
• Smartphones
• Video communication
• Artificial Intelligence
• Drones
CONTINUE RESUSCITATION!!!
Until….
• Qualified help arrives and takes over
• The victim starts breathing normally
• Rescuer becomes exhausted
Advanced Recognition: Special
Circumstances
• TRAUMA – use only Jaw Thrust manoeuver – PROTECT THE
CERVICAL SPINE
• CHOCKING – standardized 5 back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts
• DROWNING – A - B first , then C
• HYPOTHERMIA
Summary
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
• Taking the right action quickly and confidently can make the
difference between life and death for a person dealing with cardiac
arrest
Self – Assessment: Test your knowledge