Basic Life Support (BLS) refers to foundational medical care provided to victims of life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care at a hospital. The primary goal is to sustain life by maintaining adequate ventilation and circulation without the use of advanced equipment. Nurse trainees must master these rapid assessment and intervention skills because cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, from busy hospital wards in Lagos to rural community clinics. Immediate action prevents irreversible brain damage that begins within minutes of oxygen deprivation.
The Chain of Survival represents a sequence of coordinated steps that maximize the chance of survival from cardiac arrest. A weak link in this chain drastically reduces patient outcomes. For adult out-of-hospital arrests, the links flow as follows:
Before touching a collapsed person, a rescuer must ensure the environment is safe. Rushing blindly into a hazard like live electrical wires or a busy roadway creates multiple casualties instead of helping one. Once safety is confirmed, assess responsiveness by tapping the victim's shoulder and shouting, "Are you okay?" Simultaneously check for normal breathing by scanning the chest for rise and fall for no more than ten seconds. Gasping is not normal breathing; treat it as cardiac arrest.
High-Quality chest compressions drive blood to the brain and heart. Technique matters immensely. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of the breastbone) with the other hand interlocked on top. Push hard and push fast. For adults, compress at a depth of at least 5 centimeters (2 inches) but not more than 6 centimeters, maintaining a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow complete chest recoil after every push to let the heart refill with blood. Minimize interruptions in compressions at all costs.
Opening the airway is vital because the tongue often falls back and blocks the pharynx in an unconscious victim. Use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver, or the jaw-thrust maneuver if a neck injury is suspected. Deliver rescue breaths using a barrier device like a pocket mask to protect against infection. Give each breath over one second, ensuring you see the chest rise. Avoid excessive ventilation, which forces air into the stomach and can cause vomiting.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to correct lethal arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation. Turn the AED on immediately when it arrives. Follow the clear voice and visual prompts provided by the device. Attach the adhesive pads to the bare chest as shown in the diagrams. Ensure nobody touches the patient while the AED analyzes rhythm or delivers a shock. Resume CPR immediately after the shock delivery.
Choking occurs when a foreign object blocks the airway. A mild obstruction allows the person to cough forcefully; encourage them to keep coughing and do not interfere. A severe obstruction is marked by a weak, ineffective cough, inability to speak, and the universal choking sign (hands clutching the throat). For a conscious adult with severe obstruction, deliver rapid abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) inward and upward just above the navel until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.