First Aid vs BLS Healthcare Professionals
Want to watch this video? Sign up for the course
or enter your email below to watch one free video.
Unlock This Video Now for FREE
This video is normally available to paying customers.
You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.
Differences Between First Aid and Professional Care in CPR
Ensuring Safety and Proper Technique
Key Principles for Both First Aid and Professional Care
- Self-Protection: Always prioritize personal safety and wear gloves.
- Common Skills: Techniques like the recovery position and dealing with choking remain consistent.
CPR Guidelines
Divergence in CPR Approaches
First Aid: Simplicity and Accessibility
- The guidelines aim for simplicity and ease of recall, with uniform standards for child, adult, and infant CPR.
- First aiders have limited training and a lower level of responsibility.
- Access to advanced equipment is generally not available in a first aid setting.
Professional Healthcare: Adapting to Complexity
- Healthcare professionals follow different guidelines due to their advanced training, resources, and higher duty of care.
- Flexibility in care ratios is permitted based on specific situations.
- Collaboration with first aiders requires clear communication and guidance.
Paediatric CPR
Emphasizing Simplification and Bystander Resuscitation
- Simplified guidelines aim to encourage bystander resuscitation for children, who often receive no help due to rescuer concerns.
- Distinct differences exist between adult and paediatric cardiac arrest, mainly related to respiratory issues in children.
- Healthcare professionals adapt their training to optimize outcomes for paediatric cases.
Assessment and Decision-Making
Quick and Effective Evaluation
- Decision to initiate CPR should take no more than 10 seconds, relying on the initial assessment.
- Healthcare professionals prioritize signs of life (response to stimuli, normal breathing, spontaneous movement) over pulse checks.
- In a hospital setting, adherence to institutional guidelines and protocols is essential.