Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most important emergency medical measures that you can systematically learn without a lot of experience or prior medical knowledge. Although it might seem simple to do, it has the capacity to save a lot of lives especially during times of emergency when no one else can help.

BLS certification online
CPR is often quoted parallel to BLS. BLS stands for Basic Life Support. The key difference between CPR and BLS is that the BLS is an advanced CPR AED course. It is designed for healthcare professionals as opposed to the CPR certification that is meant for normal people. In essence, both of them are almost the same in terms of course content and the insight on they provide into first-aid during times of emergency. The American Red Cross equivalent the PLS certification is called the “CPR for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers.”

The professional requirement

More often than not, it will be observed that people call for BLS certification more than CPR certification especially when it comes to working in hospitals as healthcare professionals. It is only because of the professional connotation of the BLS course.

One of the reasons medical institutions to compulsorily ask for the BLS certification is because they do not want non-medical certified people to take a serious medical professionals. This also helps them segregate the short-term period seekers and keep them away from taking up a full time medical profession.

What is the difference between CPR and BLS?

cpr classes online
There is quite a lot of overlap between CPR and BLS in terms of the course material. However, BLS, by most medical professionals and institutes, is considered a notch higher than CPR. If you learn BLS Certification online, you are quite likely to learn the importance of high-quality CPR and how it can radically alter positively, the possibilities of survival for a victim. In BLS, you are also taught the concepts of ‘the chain of survival’. In CPR training, you are only taught to attend to a person if you are positively sure that they need cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, in your BLS certification classes, you can also learn to recognise the signs of someone needing CPR.

We have been talking about the importance of knowing the use and usage of the external defibrillator. In BLS courses, you are, by default, taught how to use an automated external defibrillator.

In addition, you also are quite likely to demonstrate to people who attend CPR classes online, the usage of AED. You are also trained to provide effective ventilation using a barrier device.

Sometimes, CPR is performed as a team, and as a CPR certified person, you might only know to operate in your individual capacity. However, would be a less certification, you will also know how to execute multi-rescuer resuscitation.

Which one should you go for? BLS or CPR?

cpr certification online
It would be quite evident from the paragraphs above that you will only need to go for CPR if you are a beginner. In addition, for most workplaces and for most situations, having a CPR certification online is more than adequate to attend to the situation and the emergency.

However, if you’re contemplating on pursuing a serious medical profession, BLS certification online would be a great starting point for you to learn the nuances of CPR. In addition, you also get to work with a lot of hardcore medical professionals and with a lot of fellow CPR/BLS enthusiasts.

Go for CPR!

Therefore, we strongly encourage you to start with Simple CPR courses online. They will equip you to understand one of the most basic medical manoeuvers that goes quite a long distance in ensuring the safety and survival of a cardiac arrest patient. If you think that a medical profession is your cup of tea, then you can possibly go for BLS courses online as well!