Ultimate BLS Cheat Sheet for Healthcare Workers and Responders

Table Of Content(s)

1. Introduction
2. What are the steps of Basic Life Support for Adults and Children?
3. BLS Cheat Sheet: Steps Of Defibrillation
4. What are the steps for choking relief techniques?
5. Special adjustments and considerations when performing BLS
6. Conclusion

In the fast-paced world of healthcare and emergency response, every second counts. Having quick access to essential Basic Life Support (BLS) information can make all the difference when lives are on the line. In this ultimate BLS cheat sheet we will give you quick access to essential life-saving techniques. Whether you’re a healthcare worker or a first responder, having this cheat sheet on hand helps you stay sharp and ready to act fast. Let’s jump into the key tips and guidelines that can turn emergencies into chances to save lives.

What are the steps of Basic Life Support for Adults and Children?

Whether you’re a healthcare professional or a concerned bystander, knowing these steps can help you act swiftly and effectively when every second counts. Here’s a guide to the essential steps for providing BLS to adults and children. These steps will ensure you’re prepared to make a life-saving difference in critical situations.

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Adults:

1. Check Responsiveness: Tap the person’s shoulder and shout, “Are you okay?” to see if they respond.
2. Call for Help: If there’s no response, call 911 or ask someone else to do so.
3. Check Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing. If the person isn’t breathing or only gasping, proceed to the next step.
4. Start Chest Compressions: Place your hands, one on top of the other, in the center of the chest. Push hard and fast at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Compress the chest by about 2 inches (5 cm) and allow full recoil between compressions.
5. Give Rescue Breaths: After 30 compressions, open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Pinch the nose shut, cover the mouth with yours, and give two breaths, each lasting about 1 second and making the chest rise.
6. Continue CPR: Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until emergency services arrive or the person shows signs of life.

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Children (1 year to puberty):

1. Check Responsiveness: Tap the child’s shoulder and shout, “Are you okay?” If there’s no response, proceed to call for help.
2. Call for Help: If alone, perform CPR for 2 minutes before calling 911. If someone else is with you, have them call 911 while you start CPR.
3. Check Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing. If the child isn’t breathing or only gasping, move to the next step.
4. Start Chest Compressions: Use one or two hands (depending on the child’s size) to compress the center of the chest. Push down about 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Allow full recoil between compressions.
5. Give Rescue Breaths: After 30 compressions, open the airway by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Pinch the nose, cover the child’s mouth with yours, and give two breaths, each lasting about 1 second and making the chest rise.
6. Continue CPR: Continue the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until emergency services arrive or the child shows signs of life.

BLS Cheat Sheet: Steps Of Defibrillation

To integrate defibrillation into your BLS (Basic Life Support) efforts, follow these steps:

• Assess the Situation: Ensure the area is safe. Check the person for responsiveness and breathing. Call 911 or ask someone else to call for emergency help.
• Obtain an AED: If available, retrieve an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and turn it on.
• Attach the Electrodes: Expose the person’s chest and place the AED electrode pads. One pad goes on the upper right side of the chest, and the other on the lower left side, below the armpit. Ensure pads do not touch each other.
• Analyze the Heart Rhythm: The AED will automatically analyze the heart rhythm. Follow the voice or visual prompts from the AED.
• Deliver the Shock: If the AED advises a shock, ensure no one is touching the person. Press the shock button as directed by the AED. The device will deliver an electric shock to the heart.
• Resume CPR: After delivering the shock, immediately resume CPR with chest compressions and rescue breaths. Continue CPR until the person shows signs of life or emergency services arrive.
• Follow AED Prompts: Continue to follow the AED’s prompts, which may include further analysis and shocks if necessary.
• Monitor and Support: Keep monitoring the person and provide support as directed by the AED or emergency responders.

Read More: The latest CPR and ECC changes

What are the steps for choking relief techniques?

Choking can quickly become a life-threatening emergency, but knowing how to respond effectively can make a significant difference. Here’s a simple guide to help you provide choking relief and ensure the person’s airway is cleared:

• Assess the Situation: Determine if the person is truly choking. Look for signs such as the inability to speak, cough, or breathe, and distress or panic.
• Encourage Coughing: If the person can cough, encourage them to do so. Coughing can sometimes dislodge the object blocking the airway.
• Call for Help: If the choking person cannot cough, speak, or breathe, call 911 or ask someone else to do so immediately.
• Perform Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver):

For Adults and Children Over 1 Year: Stand behind the person, place your arms around their waist, and make a fist with one hand. Position the thumb side against the middle of the abdomen, above the navel. Grasp your fist with the other hand and perform quick, inward and upward thrusts.

For Infants (Under 1 Year): Hold the infant face down along your forearm, supporting the head and neck. Deliver up to 5 gentle back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. If the object doesn’t come out, turn the infant face up, and perform up to 5 chest thrusts with two fingers in the center of the chest just below the nipple line.

• Check the Mouth: If the object becomes visible, carefully remove it with your fingers. Avoid using blind sweeps as this can push the object further down.
• Perform CPR if Needed: If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR immediately. Follow the steps for chest compressions and rescue breaths.
• Continue Until Help Arrives: Keep providing care until emergency services arrive or the person starts to show signs of recovery.

Special adjustments and considerations when performing BLS

Basic Life Support (BLS) can vary depending on the specific needs of the person in distress. Understanding and implementing special adjustments can be crucial for providing effective care in diverse situations. Here’s a guide to some important considerations:

• Pregnant Women:
  • Positioning: Tilt the woman slightly to her left by placing a rolled towel under her right hip to reduce pressure on major blood vessels and improve blood flow.
  • Chest Compressions: Perform compressions slightly higher on the chest to account for the enlarged uterus.
• Infants (Under 1 Year):
  • Chest Compressions: Use two fingers to perform compressions in the center of the chest, compressing about 1.5 inches deep at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
  • Rescue Breaths: Cover the infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth and give gentle breaths that make the chest rise.
• Children (1 Year to Puberty):
  • Chest Compressions: Use one or two hands depending on the size of the child, compressing the chest about 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest.
  • Rescue Breaths: Give breaths that cover the child’s mouth completely and make the chest rise.
• People with Disabilities:
  • Adjust Techniques: Adapt CPR techniques based on the person’s specific needs and limitations. For example, if they have a tracheostomy, perform CPR while considering the tracheostomy tube.
• Obese Individuals:
  • Chest Compressions: Use more force and adjust hand positioning if needed to ensure effective compressions. Placing additional pressure on the chest may be necessary to achieve adequate depth.
• Elderly Patients:
  • Chest Compressions: Be mindful of potential brittle bones. Perform compressions with appropriate depth and rate while being cautious of potential rib fractures.
• Considerations for Injuries:
  • Avoid Further Injury: If the person has a known injury, such as a spinal injury, perform CPR with minimal movement of the spine. For example, use jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway without tilting the head.

Read More: Depth Compression: How Deep Should CPR Chest Compressions Be?

Conclusion

Mastering basic life support (BLS) is important for anyone who faces life-threatening situations daily. With the right skills, you can confidently handle any emergencies and make a crucial difference. This BLS cheat sheet gives you a concise and actionable guide, helping you stay prepared for any emergency. 

By keeping the key steps and adjustments in mind, you will be ready to act responsibly when every second counts. Stay updated with your training, practice regularly, and remember that your ability to respond with precision and care can save lives.