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The American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) course is designed to train healthcare clinicians including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals and other healthcare and public safety personnel to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants. Content in this program is consistent with:
BLS Training has been taken by millions of individuals across thousands of healthcare organizations, EMS agencies and the Military Training Network. This evidence-based course features updated materials, current scientific guidelines, practical teaching tools and offers opportunities for Continuing Education (CE) credit.
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.
In order to help you respond safely to a range of medical problems, our BLS class schedule includes coursework in:
When you take a BLS class from the American Red Cross, and earn BLS certification, you'll get anytime, anywhere access to Red Cross Digital Certificates, as well as the ability to print, share, and download your certificate wherever and whenever you like. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. Class participants and employers can visit www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate and enter the ID found on the digital certificate (or scan the QR code with a standard QR reader using a smart device) to access a copy of the valid certificate with student training information.
Click here for instructions on accessing your certificate.
BLS courses use scenario-based training to teach CPR and AED usage for adults, children and infants, as well as recognizing and responding to choking/obstructed airways, opioid overdoses and other emergencies. BLS classes help you practice quick thinking and clear communication in urgent situations. You will build skills around critical thinking, problem solving, communication and teamwork.
Most healthcare clinicians and first responders who care for patients need BLS certification. This includes nurses, doctors, EMTs, dental staff, medical assistants and other clinical team members. Many employers and licensing boards also require you to keep your BLS certification current. Be sure to check regulations for your state and profession.
To earn a BLS certificate, take a Basic Life Support course from an approved provider such as the American Red Cross. The course includes hands-on practice and a final test to show you can perform CPR, use an AED and work as part of a team. Once you pass, you will receive a digital certificate.
BLS training requires an in-person session to assess your hands-on skills. Some programs let you review BLS concepts online, but you still need to practice and test in-person to complete your certification.
BLS certification is valid for two years. Renewing your certification helps you stay updated with the latest guidelines.
To renew your BLS certification, take a BLS renewal course before your current certification expires. These courses review key skills, build your confidence and update you on the latest recommendations.
Red Cross BLS courses are approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Qualified EMS professionals can earn continuing education credit according to CAPCE rules.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the foundation of resuscitation training for healthcare clinicians including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel. BLS program content includes single-and multiple-responder CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defibrillator) use, as well as how to care for a patient who has an obstructed airway (choking).
The Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED portfolio of courses has been the go-to program for thousands of businesses and training organizations for over a century. These programs are the foundation of safety training and our courses satisfy OSHA-mandated, workplace and other regulatory requirements.
When lives are on the line, it is critical that healthcare and professional responder staff have the skills and confidence to act in the moments that matter. Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) is meant for healthcare clinicians and first responders. This comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum goes beyond a cardiac focus, making our programs unique and more robust. Red Cross BLS courses meet competency verification, education, credentialing and privileging requirements.
CPR classes are the foundation of workplace safety training, giving immediate responders a mastery of lifesaving techniques and the confidence to act when moments matter, be the cardiac emergency be at home, at school or in their community.
