Provide Basic Life Support
Overview
This standard covers preparing for and providing basic life support.
Users of this standard will need to ensure their practice reflects up to date information and policies
Users of this standard will need to communicate effectively to meet individuals' needs and wishes and work in line with health and safety legislation, policy and practices.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1. assess and promptly confirm that the individual’s circulation and breathing has stopped and establish the need for basic life support
P2. summon help immediately in accordance with guidelines and workplace procedures
P3. assess and confirm that environmental factors are safe for the initiation of basic life support
P4. use the correct technique for opening the individual’s airway including removing obstruction causing choking
P5. assess breathing to confirm if individual is not breathing or has abnormal breathing
P6. administer oxygen safely if available
P7. perform external chest compressions and/or ventilation safely and effectively ensuring:
a. a firm base to facilitate external compressions
b. compression is applied on the correct site of the individual’s chest
c. comply with the correct depth
d. comply with the correct rate of chest compressions
e. the appropriate ratio is used when alternating compressions with ventilation
P8. use an Automated External Defibrillator when cardiac arrest is suspected, following the instructions given by the Automated External Defibrillator
P9. monitor the effectiveness of compressions and ventilation
P10. continue ventilation and compressions until:
a. the individual shows signs of life
b. the individual is handed over to the care of others
P11. place a recovered individual in a stable condition that allows for continued monitoring
P12. accurately and clearly report the actions you have taken, and the duration, when handing over to a specialist
P13. reinstate equipment to working status after use
P14. complete all relevant documentation required for basic life support
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere
K2. the hazards and risks which may arise and how to manage these
K3. the importance of seeking immediate help to maximise an individual’s chance of survival
K4. the different techniques for ensuring an open airway and when these would be used
K5. the anatomy of the respiratory system
K6. the priorities in life support
K7. the action to take and the different methods used in the event of foreign body airway obstruction in children, young people and adults
K8. the different techniques used to ventilate an individual and when each should be used
K9. the ventilation ratio and rate for different individual’s
K10. why a firm base is needed for chest compressions, and what action to take when one is not available
K11. the correct site and hand/finger placement for applying external chest compression
K12. the rate and depth of compressions needed for different individuals
K13. the different methods of chest thrusts and back slaps to use in the cases of children, young people and adults
K14. the purpose of the Automated External Defibrillator and importance of following the instructions for using the Automated External Defibrillator.
K15. the safety requirements for self and others when operating an Automated External Defibrillator.
K16. the observations to be carried out to identify adequate oxygenation
K17. when to cease application of techniques
K18. the importance of the placement of the recovered individual including the specific positioning needs of pregnant women in the third trimester
K19. the information required when handing over to the care of a specialist
K20. the methods used to reinstate equipment to working status after use in line with relevant guidelines, protocols and workplace procedures
K21. the need for emotional support of others or self-care following initiation of basic life support
K22. where and how to access support for self and others following initiation of basic life support
K23. how to completely and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with relevant legislation, guidelines, and workplace procedures