FAQs
What is Basic Life Support and First Aid?
BLS stands for Basic Life Support. By completing a BLS training, you will learn essential life-saving skills such as rescue breathing, CPR, bag valve mask use, and more. Basic Life Support skills teach you what to do when someone is incapacitated or having a life-threatening medical event and includes blood-born pathogens and bleeding control training.
On the other hand, First Aid deals with minor or serious illnesses and physical injuries. In first aid training, you will learn skills such as what to do when someone is bleeding, has been burned, or has suffered a head injury.
The goal of both BLS and first aid is to sustain life safely and effectively until more advanced personnel and/or equipment can arrive.
Whichever modality you choose, you can earn your BLS certification and meet employer requirements through a BLS First Aid training of your choice.
What is a BLS certification?
A BLS certification indicates that you have learned the necessary skills of Basic Life Support and completed testing to demonstrate your knowledge.
In order to earn a BLS certification, you will need to complete the course trainings and pass the final exam with a score of 80% or better.
BLS certification indicates that you have passed a test based on guidelines set forth by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) or the American Heart Association (AHA).
A BLS certification is not a medical license of any sort. It also is not a guarantee that you will perform BLS correctly. Rather, it is a certification that you have completed a knowledge- and skills-based training and have passed an exam based on the best available standards.
What is the difference between BLS and first aid?
BLS and first aid training programs will teach you different, but complementary, skills.
You’ll learn the following in your online BLS certification program:
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Overcoming the 5 Fears that Prevent Rescue
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Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
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Recognition & Action Steps for Suspected Heart Attack & Stroke
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Universal Precautions
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Rescue Breathing for Adult, Child & Infant
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Use of a Resuscitation Mask
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Use of a Bag Valve Mask
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Two Rescuer CPR for Adult, Child & Infant
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Conscious & Unconscious Choking for Adult, Child & Infant
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Bleeding Control
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Shock Management
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Moving People
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Special Considerations
In your First Aid training , you’ll learn the additional skills of:
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Secondary Survey
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Head, Neck and Back Injuries
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Concussions
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Musculoskeletal Injuries
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Burns
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Eye Injuries
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Diabetic Emergencies
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Seizures
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Poison Control
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Bites and Stings
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Allergic Reactions
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Asthma
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Epinephrine Injection
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Heat and Cold Emergencies
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Opioid Overdose
Some lessons from BLS overlap with those in First Aid training, which makes the two subject areas a great fit for those wanting or needing a comprehensive emergency response training program.
If I booked a course and need to change my date, can I do that?
Yes! Just email us at info@ustasc.com
How often do I need to renew my certification?
Every 2 years.