Basic Life Support (BLS) classes are designed to teach you the essential steps needed to respond to life-threatening emergencies. It covers crucial skills like CPR, AED use, and managing choking incidents, but it overlooks the emotional side of saving lives. They rarely teach you how to manage fear, stay calm under pressure, or handle the adrenaline rush that comes with a real emergency.
This blog will take you beyond the classroom and into the unspoken realities of real-life emergencies. After reading it, you’ll learn how to be mentally and emotionally prepared when every second counts.
10 things they don’t teach you in BLS training
BLS certification may teach you how to revive a heart, but it doesn’t teach you how to be calm and stable while handling a real-life emergency. There are the critical aspects they often leave out to teaching their students. These 10 facts can help you handle a patient’s critical situation more effectively:
1. The psychological impact of performing CPR
Basic Life Support (BLS) course focuses on correct compression depth, breathing ratios, and response timing, often neglecting the emotional impact of administering CPR.
For many responders, trained professionals, or bystanders, the experience can trigger an intense emotional response. Questions like “Did I do enough?”, “Could I have done better?” What if it wasn’t successful?” These thoughts can echo in responders’ minds for days, weeks, or even longer. This internal dialogue can lead to symptoms associated with acute stress, anxiety, or in some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That’s why it’s essential to prepare not just your skills, but also your emotions.
2. Fear of legal consequences
It’s natural to fear potential legal consequences when performing CPR or assisting during emergencies like drowning, choking, or breathing issues. However, the Good Samaritan Law is in place to protect both bystanders and healthcare professionals who act in good faith to help others. This law is crucial in encouraging people to offer assistance in emergencies without the worry of legal repercussions.
You will get to learn more about this law in the BLS class, so as long as you’re acting with good intentions and within your level of training, you’re shielded from legal liability.
3. Risk of Disease Transmission
BLS classes don’t cover the risk of disease transmission during CPR or other life-saving actions. While the chance of infection is low, bloodborne pathogens and respiratory illnesses remain a real concern, especially without proper barriers. It is essential to protect yourself by using barriers like face shields, gloves, or one-way rescue masks while administering care before the EMT arrives.
If protective equipment is not available, you can still perform hands-only CPR, an effective method that focuses solely on chest compressions, to save a life while minimising personal risk.
4. You might hurt the victim
In the urgency to save a life, even experienced healthcare professionals can make mistakes that result in unintended harm. If you’re not calm and focused, there’s a risk of causing injury or performing an incorrect procedure. CPR requires precise pressure to restart the heart. If the pressure or hand placement is incorrect, it can lead to serious consequences, which can cause the victim’s death. That’s why it’s crucial to stay composed, follow proper techniques, and ensure you’re applying the right amount of force to avoid any harmful outcomes.
5. CPR doesn’t always work
While CPR is a critical life-saving technique, it doesn’t always result in success. Despite your best efforts, factors like the victim’s medical condition, the timing of CPR, or underlying health issues may affect the outcome. It’s important to understand that while CPR can significantly improve survival chances, it’s not always a guaranteed solution. As a rescuer, you need to be well-prepared to handle the situation by using an AED and ensuring proper hand placement during chest compressions.
6. Fear of self-injury during activities
After completing the Standard BLS training course, you might still experience a fear of injuring yourself while providing care to a victim. Although you may have mastered the techniques in class, real-life CPR always brings an unspoken worry: “What if I injure myself while trying to save someone?” BLS training does not focus on responder self-care, as there are many critical topics to cover within the course.
Responders need to be very careful while administering help because they may experience injuries like skin exposure risks, knee pain from prolonged kneeling, back strain from improper posture, and hand or wrist fatigue due to repetitive chest compressions.
7. The difference between BLS and CPR certification
There is confusion between CPR and BLS certifications. BLS (Basic Life Support) is a more comprehensive course that covers team-based scenarios, the use of a bag-valve mask, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) operation, and advanced airway management topics that are not included in a basic CPR course. While CPR focuses on life-saving techniques for individuals, BLS prepares healthcare providers and professional rescuers to respond in more complex emergencies.
Also read: How to renew bls certification?
8. The importance of immediate action
A CPR course might not always address how important it is to act quickly in an emergency. When a responder delays in providing CPR, brain damage can begin to occur within just 4-6 minutes. “According to research, a person’s chance of survival drops by 7 to 10% for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation.” Every certified professional should know that early CPR preserves brain functions by sustaining oxygen delivery at the right time. The faster resuscitation efforts begin, the greater the chances of survival.
9 Dealing with Family and Bystanders
BLS training may not fully prepare you to handle emotional family members or bystanders. If you are a healthcare provider or a first responder, then you must know how to deal with a patient’s close family member. Try to talk to them in a clear and good tone and make them understand what your next steps are to rescue the victim. If needed, ask someone to call emergency services or assist in small ways. Your calm presence can ease panic and is a key part of providing effective care.
10. Hands-on practice while providing CPR
In the United States, you will find many training institutions that offer online BLS classes that offer to provide comprehensive study material. Before enrolling in a course, make sure that the training center offers hands-on practice tests in the BLS class after completing the online portion. Hands-on practice with manikins is crucial to building real-life skills. Using CPR tools such as manikins, AED, oxygen mask, and learning and practicing techniques physically are essential steps to strengthen your confidence and practical knowledge effectively.
Also read: BLS study guide
Why choose Heart Start CPR for Complete BLS training in San Francisco?
Many CPR training institutions in San Francisco, California, fail to cover these 10 critical topics in their Basic Life Support (BLS) classes. If you’re looking for a training center that not only teaches you the skills but also builds your confidence in performing CPR in real-life emergencies, then the Heart Start CPR program offers a comprehensive course packed with practical, hands-on training and real-world guidance.
We are an AHA-authorised training center that offers various life-saving courses, such as BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Join us, and our experienced instructors will guide you to save victims by providing real-life scenario examples through videos and photos. If you’re ready to learn a life-saving skill and want to be mentally and emotionally prepared to respond in emergencies, visit us today to enroll in a BLS class. We offer CPR training across multiple locations, including Oakland, San Ramon, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, Dublin, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, and Reno, Nevada.
