Seven Reasons Why Basic Life Support Knowledge Is Valuable

Disasters never strike with a warning, be they a sudden heart attack or a fire in the building. Regardless, the acute medical injuries people suffer often require immediate medical help till the EMS arrive. In such situations, knowing some basic life support skills can come in handy. The best thing an individual can do is be well-prepared in case of unintentional mishaps. That said, not everyone knows the importance of basic life support knowledge. Many people shy away because of the fear of doing the wrong thing, not having enough time, or low tolerance to gruesome situations.

However, a person trained in essential life support can make a world of difference and end up saving lives when it matters the most. Not to mention, an introductory training course only takes a few hours to complete. Or a few weeks if it’s a certification. That said, listed below are a few reasons why learning BLS skills can be a life-saver.

Basic life support knowledge helps save lives

A well-trained individual to provide basic life support or first aid can be the difference between life and death for someone who experiences sudden trauma. While it might be natural for a non-trained individual to run to help an injured person, there’s also a very good chance that they might panic and make matters worse. However, someone with BLS knowledge is confident, reliable, and will control themselves and their actions during a medical emergency.

That said, if you’re someone who wants to learn essential life support skills, you can always enroll in a BLS training program. These certifications aren’t only for medical workers and firefighters but are also for individuals who want to be ready for any situation. If you’re an individual who already holds an expired BLS certification, consider an AHA BLS renewal to ensure you’re qualified to practice professionally and also independently. An expired certificate could land you in trouble if things go down south.

Basic life support helps in relieving pain

Immediate care to relieve pain is vital as it can help to manage acute problems. Meaning, knowing how to address injuries and illnesses by performing a quick rub or applying an ice pack to sprains, broken bones, and other medical issues can help manage pain till medical emergency services arrive. Knowing a few effective pain management techniques can relieve some of the discomfort injured people experience when they incur an injury.

BLS certification or knowledge helps build confidence

Confidence eliminates or reduces the fear of helping others during medical emergencies. Well-trained individuals are far better at managing sudden complications than people who lack knowledge. Not to mention, they are always willing to get hands-on to provide victims the immediate medical attention they require. Compare that to untrained individuals. They will fear touching an injured or sick person to avoid doing more damage than good. Therefore, knowing how to perform CPR or help someone who’s choking will improve your confidence levels and put you in control of the situation when you need to be.

Basic life support knowledge prevents the situation from becoming worse

If someone experiences a sudden minor heart attack or gets a deep cut, not getting immediate help could make matters worse in just a few minutes. However, if someone close by is well-equipped with essential life support skills, they can quickly step in and provide the necessary help and prevent the situation from becoming worse. While it is always advised to contact EMS in such cases, but sometimes a quick bandage or CPR may help.

Basic life support knowledge will help you keep a victim comfortable

Not every illness, sickness, or injury requires a trip to the emergency room. However, that doesn’t mean that the person suffering from medical issues won’t be in pain. For instance, a child suffering from a bruised elbow or fever can be in pain due to raised body temperature. So, by knowing what exactly to do, you can employ simple life support techniques like correct bandaging methods or applying a local anesthetic that can keep the victim comfortable till emergency services arrive. Plus, you will also offer emotional support to keep the patients calm, reducing their anxiety levels, making them feel more secure.

Basic life support knowledge helps promote healthy living

One of the essential things you’ll learn during a BLS training program is keeping yourself safe and prioritizing your health and well-being. At the same time, some people might call this being selfish. However, that is not the case at all. After all, you will only be able to help others when you’re fit and healthy yourself. Furthermore, during BLS training, you will also learn the importance of how a healthy lifestyle and habits can increase or decrease your chances of developing medical problems such as diabetes or heart disease. So, having such knowledge will equip y with the tools necessary to keep yourself and others away from health hazards.

Basic life support training helps you communicate better with medical professionals

When you have basic life support knowledge, you can help the patient during emergencies and stay with them till medical professionals arrive. Once the team comes, you’ll be able to communicate with the team effectively based on the information you know. After all, the individual suffering from an injury or illness will be in no shape whatsoever to share with them. However, you can step in and provide critical information about what caused the accident, injury, or sickness. This effective communication will allow you and the medical emergency professionals to make the right decisions for the patient.

Conclusion

There are numerous reasons why someone would want to learn basic life support. Of course, injuries from falls, collisions, burns, bleeding wounds, and more can be a few reasons. However, other issues like heart issues, internal injuries, seizures, and much more require swift action to avoid turning into a life or death situation. Not to mention, there is always the fear of someone choking. So, consider obtaining some basic life support knowledge or training as it will provide you with the ability to help someone in need when there’s no immediate help available.