BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND EMERGENCY CARE
INTRODUCTION
We begin by understanding the difference between first aid, basic life support (BLS), advanced
cardiac life support (ACLS), advanced trauma life support (ATLS), and emergency medicine.
1. First aid
This is the immediate help given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional help and
care arrives. First aid is usually provided by laypersons who find themselves near a victim. This
is because first aid can be required anywhere where accidents occur (homes, schools, market
places, roads, sports, churches, mosques, temples, entertainment places, stadiums, workplaces,
etc).
The main goal of first aid is to: prevent the worsening of an injury, preserve life, and promote
recovery.
A first aider should have the following skills and knowledge:
Know how to control bleeding
Know how to treat minor burns and wounds
Know how to splint fractures
Know how to manage choking
Know basic CPR
A first aider should be conversant with the contents of a first aid kit. And in the event a first aid
kit is non-existent, a first aider should be able to make quick decisions and improvise materials
available at the scene of incident.
What is a first aid kit?
A first aid kit is a collection of basic medical supplies used to give immediate care to an injured
or ill person before professional medical help arrives.
A first aid kit is used to:
Treat minor injuries such as cuts, burns, and sprains.
Stop bleeding and prevent infection.
Help in emergencies like fainting, choking, or fractures.
Provide temporary care before the patient reaches a hospital.
1
,A standard first aid kit should contain the following essentials:
Dressings and bandages
Sterile gauze pads
Adhesive bandages (plasters)
Roller bandages
Triangular bandage (for slings)
Adhesive tape
Cleaning and antiseptics
Antiseptic solution or wipes
Cotton wool
Alcohol swabs
Tools and equipment
Scissors
Tweezers
Safety pins
Disposable gloves
Thermometer
Basic medicines
Pain relievers (e.g., Paracetamol)
Anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., Ibuprofen)
Antihistamines for allergies
Oral rehydration salts (ORS)
Other important items
Burn ointment or burn dressing
Eye wash or saline solution
Instant cold pack
First aid manual or guide
What are the characteristics of a good first aid kit? A good first aid kit should be:
Clean and well organized
Clearly labeled
Portable and waterproof
Stored in an accessible place
2
,Where should first aid kits be available? First aid kits should be available in homes, schools,
workplaces, vehicles / other vessels, public places such as sports centers, etc.
The following rules are very important when using a first aid kit
Wash hands or wear gloves before touching wounds.
Clean the wound first before dressing it.
Do not use expired medicines or supplies.
Seek medical help for serious injuries.
A first aid kit is essential for emergency response, injury management, and preventing
complications before professional medical care is available.
2. Basic life support (BLS)
Basic life support is provided in both pre-hospital and hospital settings. The purpose of basic life
support is to sustain life in cases of cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or choking. Basic life
support is provided by healthcare workers, trained first responders, EMTs, and sometimes by
trained laypersons. Basic life support focuses on three things: airway, breathing, and circulation
(ABC).
BLS is more structured and medically focused than first aid. Providers require the following
skills:
Exceptional CPR skills
Excellent use of the automated external defibrillator (AED)
Rescue breathing skills
Relief of airway obstruction skills
The equipment required to provide basic life support include AED and a bag-valve mask.
3. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
Advanced cardiac life support is provided by doctors, nurses, and paramedics who have
advanced training in the skill. Hence, ACLS is provided in emergency departments, ICUs, and
ambulances. The purpose of ACLS is to manage life-threatening cardiac emergencies and
focuses on the following two things:
Advanced management of cardiac arrest and arrhythmias
Post–cardiac arrest care
The typical skills required to provide ACLS include:
Interpretation of ECG rhythm
Defibrillation and cardioversion
3
, Advanced airway management (intubation)
Intravenous drug administration (e.g. adrenaline, amiodarone)
Cardiac monitors, defibrillators, and IV drugs are the equipment are required to provide ACLS.
ACLS builds on BLS and adds medications, advanced diagnostics, and decision-making.
4. Advanced trauma life support (ATLS)
Advanced trauma life support is a standardized, systematic management of severely injured
trauma patients. ATLS is specifically provided by doctors (especially emergency physicians and
surgeons). It aims to improve survival rates and outcomes by identifying and treating life-
threatening injuries in order of priority, beginning with the most immediate conditions.
The main focus of ATLS is rapid assessment and prioritization of injuries; and prevention of
death from airway, breathing, or bleeding problems.
ATLS follows the ADCDE approach: assessment, breathing, circulation, disability, environment,
and efforts. The ABCDE method involves:
Airway with cervical spine protection
Breathing
Circulation and haemorrhage control
Disability (neurological status)
Exposure and environmental control
The ATLS approach is used in both military and civilian settings, which includes emergency and
trauma centres. The equipment required include trauma resuscitation tools and imaging. Surgical
support is also required.
NOTE: ATLS is different from ACLS. ATLS is trauma-specific, whereas ACLS is cardiac-
specific.
Table showing a summary of the differences between first aid, BLS, ACLS and ATLS.
Characteristic First Aid BLS ACLS ATLS
Level Basic Basic medical Advanced Advanced
Target Any injury/illness Cardiac/respiratory arrest Cardiac emergencies Severe trauma
Providers Laypersons Trained responders Clinicians Doctors
Medications No No Yes Yes
Airway Basic Basic Advanced Advanced
Settings Anywhere Pre-hospital & hospital Hospital/ambulance Trauma centres
In brief: First aid stabilizes, BLS keeps people alive, ACLS treats heart emergencies, and ATLS
saves lives after major traumas.
4
INTRODUCTION
We begin by understanding the difference between first aid, basic life support (BLS), advanced
cardiac life support (ACLS), advanced trauma life support (ATLS), and emergency medicine.
1. First aid
This is the immediate help given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional help and
care arrives. First aid is usually provided by laypersons who find themselves near a victim. This
is because first aid can be required anywhere where accidents occur (homes, schools, market
places, roads, sports, churches, mosques, temples, entertainment places, stadiums, workplaces,
etc).
The main goal of first aid is to: prevent the worsening of an injury, preserve life, and promote
recovery.
A first aider should have the following skills and knowledge:
Know how to control bleeding
Know how to treat minor burns and wounds
Know how to splint fractures
Know how to manage choking
Know basic CPR
A first aider should be conversant with the contents of a first aid kit. And in the event a first aid
kit is non-existent, a first aider should be able to make quick decisions and improvise materials
available at the scene of incident.
What is a first aid kit?
A first aid kit is a collection of basic medical supplies used to give immediate care to an injured
or ill person before professional medical help arrives.
A first aid kit is used to:
Treat minor injuries such as cuts, burns, and sprains.
Stop bleeding and prevent infection.
Help in emergencies like fainting, choking, or fractures.
Provide temporary care before the patient reaches a hospital.
1
,A standard first aid kit should contain the following essentials:
Dressings and bandages
Sterile gauze pads
Adhesive bandages (plasters)
Roller bandages
Triangular bandage (for slings)
Adhesive tape
Cleaning and antiseptics
Antiseptic solution or wipes
Cotton wool
Alcohol swabs
Tools and equipment
Scissors
Tweezers
Safety pins
Disposable gloves
Thermometer
Basic medicines
Pain relievers (e.g., Paracetamol)
Anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., Ibuprofen)
Antihistamines for allergies
Oral rehydration salts (ORS)
Other important items
Burn ointment or burn dressing
Eye wash or saline solution
Instant cold pack
First aid manual or guide
What are the characteristics of a good first aid kit? A good first aid kit should be:
Clean and well organized
Clearly labeled
Portable and waterproof
Stored in an accessible place
2
,Where should first aid kits be available? First aid kits should be available in homes, schools,
workplaces, vehicles / other vessels, public places such as sports centers, etc.
The following rules are very important when using a first aid kit
Wash hands or wear gloves before touching wounds.
Clean the wound first before dressing it.
Do not use expired medicines or supplies.
Seek medical help for serious injuries.
A first aid kit is essential for emergency response, injury management, and preventing
complications before professional medical care is available.
2. Basic life support (BLS)
Basic life support is provided in both pre-hospital and hospital settings. The purpose of basic life
support is to sustain life in cases of cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or choking. Basic life
support is provided by healthcare workers, trained first responders, EMTs, and sometimes by
trained laypersons. Basic life support focuses on three things: airway, breathing, and circulation
(ABC).
BLS is more structured and medically focused than first aid. Providers require the following
skills:
Exceptional CPR skills
Excellent use of the automated external defibrillator (AED)
Rescue breathing skills
Relief of airway obstruction skills
The equipment required to provide basic life support include AED and a bag-valve mask.
3. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
Advanced cardiac life support is provided by doctors, nurses, and paramedics who have
advanced training in the skill. Hence, ACLS is provided in emergency departments, ICUs, and
ambulances. The purpose of ACLS is to manage life-threatening cardiac emergencies and
focuses on the following two things:
Advanced management of cardiac arrest and arrhythmias
Post–cardiac arrest care
The typical skills required to provide ACLS include:
Interpretation of ECG rhythm
Defibrillation and cardioversion
3
, Advanced airway management (intubation)
Intravenous drug administration (e.g. adrenaline, amiodarone)
Cardiac monitors, defibrillators, and IV drugs are the equipment are required to provide ACLS.
ACLS builds on BLS and adds medications, advanced diagnostics, and decision-making.
4. Advanced trauma life support (ATLS)
Advanced trauma life support is a standardized, systematic management of severely injured
trauma patients. ATLS is specifically provided by doctors (especially emergency physicians and
surgeons). It aims to improve survival rates and outcomes by identifying and treating life-
threatening injuries in order of priority, beginning with the most immediate conditions.
The main focus of ATLS is rapid assessment and prioritization of injuries; and prevention of
death from airway, breathing, or bleeding problems.
ATLS follows the ADCDE approach: assessment, breathing, circulation, disability, environment,
and efforts. The ABCDE method involves:
Airway with cervical spine protection
Breathing
Circulation and haemorrhage control
Disability (neurological status)
Exposure and environmental control
The ATLS approach is used in both military and civilian settings, which includes emergency and
trauma centres. The equipment required include trauma resuscitation tools and imaging. Surgical
support is also required.
NOTE: ATLS is different from ACLS. ATLS is trauma-specific, whereas ACLS is cardiac-
specific.
Table showing a summary of the differences between first aid, BLS, ACLS and ATLS.
Characteristic First Aid BLS ACLS ATLS
Level Basic Basic medical Advanced Advanced
Target Any injury/illness Cardiac/respiratory arrest Cardiac emergencies Severe trauma
Providers Laypersons Trained responders Clinicians Doctors
Medications No No Yes Yes
Airway Basic Basic Advanced Advanced
Settings Anywhere Pre-hospital & hospital Hospital/ambulance Trauma centres
In brief: First aid stabilizes, BLS keeps people alive, ACLS treats heart emergencies, and ATLS
saves lives after major traumas.
4
