Basic life support certification american red cross

Q: What is the difference between BLS and BLS for healthcare providers?

There is no difference between BLS and CPR,” he said. BLS is an abbreviation for Basic Life Support. It is simply another term for CPR and leans towards meaning healthcare provider level.”

Take in-person and online BLS courses – and get the best of both worlds. When you choose our innovative blended learning program, you'll have the opportunity to take American Red Cross BLS online courses, and participate in in-person skills sessions. This way, you can learn at your own pace and hone your skills with an instructor in a group setting.

Table of Contents Show

How Online Classes Work
Sign Up Today
Get to Know Our Program
Are AHA and Red Cross BLS the same?
Is BLS and CPR the same thing?
What is the difference between BLS and BLS for healthcare providers?
Is BLS Certification hard?

How Online Classes Work

At the American Red Cross, BLS online courses are easy to access and easy to complete. In order to begin, all you need to do is make sure that you have internet access, and a laptop or desktop computer, tablet or smartphone, then sign up.

Online BLS classes are divided into interactive modules that you can take as your schedule permits. Our adaptive learning functionality allows you to follow a personalized learning path which gives experienced participants the option to test out of a lesson, or test out of specific topics within a lesson, resulting in reduced overall class time. In addition, you'll receive unlimited two-year access to the course materials – including a free digital Basic Life Support Participant’s Manual, so you can choose to take as much or as little time you need to get through the classes. Once certified, you can even refer back to the materials to help keep your newfound skills fresh in your mind.

Red Cross Training Matters.
For more than a century, we've prepared people to respond to emergencies of all sizes – from the everyday to the large disaster. Join the millions we train every year and learn the learn the BLS skills that can save a life.

The blended learning program at the American Red Cross seamlessly combines online BLS courses with in-person skills sessions. This unique training program allows you to learn and practice the appropriate techniques for delivering life-saving care during times of crisis. To join our program, all you have to do is find a class and complete the registration process.

Explore our full range of courses – and take the next step in your career.

Basic Life Support, or BLS, generally refers to the type of care that first-responders, healthcare providers and public safety professionals provide to anyone who is experiencing cardiac arrest, respiratory distress or an obstructed airway. It requires knowledge and skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using automated external defibrillators (AED) and relieving airway obstructions in patients of every age.
Get to Know Our Program
- In addition to the physical skills necessary for providing BLS care to those in need, those working in basic life support also need to have critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and be able to work as part of a team to deliver the best care possible and improve patient outcomes.
- To learn more about the specific classes that are part of our BLS program, visit the BLS/CPR page. Or, for a deeper dive into what BLS is, you can purchase and review our Basic Life Support Participant's Manual from the Red Cross Store.
- American Red Cross Basic Life Support classes are developed under the guidance of, and reviewed by, the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. Content in this program is consistent with:
  - The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2015–2018 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations.
  - The 2015–2018 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
- Created with the latest information available, our BLS classes allow you to learn life-saving techniques and can help prepare you for a career in the medical field, as a police officer or firefighter or another career where caring for others is part of the job.
- With the American Red Cross, you can take a variety of in-person and online BLS courses – and get the best of both worlds. When you choose our innovative blended learning program, you'll not only receive online lecture material, but you'll also participate in interactive scenarios that allow you to improve your clinical decision-making skills. Once the course is complete, you'll participate in in-person skills sessions. This way, you can learn at your own pace and hone your skills with an instructor in a group setting.
Of course, as professionals, we know how important it is to not only get the training you need, but to do so as efficiently as possible, which is why our BLS blended learning courses also include adaptive learning functionality, which allows you to receive personalized, focused courses. By completing an optional pre-assessment for each lesson, you'll not only receive an independent learning path, but depending on the results of the pre-assessment, you'll also have the opportunity to test out of a lesson, or test out of specific topics within a lesson – which can reduce the overall amount of time spent in class.

Are AHA and Red Cross BLS the same?

In general, the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer equivalent classes—with a few small variations, you will learn the same techniques. Both are accepted at many hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Is BLS and CPR the same thing?

Basic life support (BLS) includes CPR but is an overall higher level of medical care typically administered by public safety professionals, first responders, paramedics, healthcare providers, and qualified bystanders.

What is the difference between BLS and BLS for healthcare providers?

“There is no difference between BLS and CPR,” he said. “BLS is an abbreviation for Basic Life Support. It is simply another term for CPR and leans towards meaning healthcare provider level.”

Is BLS Certification hard?

The short answer? No, the class is not generally considered difficult – however, compared to lay rescuer CPR & First Aid classes, there is a greater amount of information covered and the skill requirements are slightly more technical.

Basic life support certification american red cross

How Online Classes Work