Call or Text: February 24, 2021
BLS Course online in Boston, Massachusetts
To register for one of these courses call use at 781-854-8015. There are special discounts are available to groups over 5 people.
The American Heart Association’s BLS course is a requirement for a variety of professions including nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, and many other medical related professions. One of the most frequent questions that we receive is “is the BLS course offered online?” Thankfully, CPR of America offers the BLS hybrid course at our Boston, Massachusetts and Norwood, Massachusetts locations.
The BLS skills check gives students the ability to take 2 hours online and then one in person. Before coming to the one-hour hands-on portion students must first take the BLS HeartCode training online. This program includes animations, simulations, several interactive modules, and videos to teach the conceptual concepts of American Heart Association BLS Course. After completion students will completion certificate that can be printed out and brought to the course.
In our one-hour hands on BLS skills check we review many of the concepts included in the online module. The first concept we review is the American Heart Associations scene safety and assessment guidelines.
These are the steps that we would take in a medical emergency before providing chest compressions.
1. Making sure the surroundings are safe- there is not an active shooter, powerline on the victim, etc.
2. Checking for responsiveness by forcefully double tapping the chest of the victim.
3. If the victim is still not responding point to someone to call 911 and get the AED.
4. Finally, perform a look listen a feel- check for the carotid pulse, look for chest rise, and listen for breathing.
After each student masters those steps, we move on to the chest compressions on the adult which are done at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute at a dept of 2-2.4 inches. Each of our manikins using a feedback device that can analyze if chest compressions are being performed too fast, too slow, or not deep enough.
The next module that we cover in the course is how to use an AED or automated external defibrillator. These portable devices provide an electrical shock which can potentially reverse arrythmia such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
The steps to use an AED includes
1. Turn on the AED by holding down the green circle or by opening the lid of the unit.
2. Put the AED pads on the victim. One goes on the top left bellow the collarbone and the other one goes on the bottom right of the chest.
3. Plug the AED cord into the unit.
4. Stand Clear of the victim and make sure that no one around you is touching the victim.
5. When you hear “charging” we can provide chest compressions- usually you will be able administer 4-5 chest compressions while it is charging.
6. Stand clear of the victim and hit the flashing triangle.
7. Continue chest compressions. Every 2 minutes the AED will tell you if an additional shock is advised or not.
Students then practice with a bag mask device which provides ventilations to the victim that are consistent and is more sanitary compared to a pocket mask or mouth to mouth breaths. It is important to utilize the American Heart Associations EC technique to provide a tight seal to the victim.
Finally, we go over the heimlich maneuver or abdominal thrusts for the adult and the infant. These thrusts are used to clear an airway obstruction.
How to deliver the hemlock for an adult
1. Make sure you are in an athletic position- put one foot is in front of the other.
2. Use your dominate hand and make a fist with your thumb protruding.
3. Locate the naval and sternum of the victim and put your fist in between them.
4. Perform an in and out J like motion.
5. If the victim becomes unresponsive put them on a firm flat surface and begin CPR.