What Are the Skills Required to Address a Life Threatening Condition?

Life and health can always be a little unpredictable. In times of emergencies, being prepared (and trained in emergency first aid, for example) is always a great help, boosts one’s confidence and could potentially save someone’s life.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is a type of help that can be temporarily given to somebody sick or injured until medical help arrives. Being able to administer basic life support is a complex-free skill that can have a huge impact, from reassuring a victim to saving their life. It covers a wide range of skills, from applying plaster to a minor cut to performing life-saving CPR. Most organisations and workplaces today appoint a BLS trained professional for workplace safety. In short, it’s always a good idea to complete an NZ Basic Life Support course. 
Whether you wish to become a nurse or opt for emergency medicine training, knowing basic life support is crucial. 
This blog post will guide you with some background information on the role, highlight some of the BLS duties, and explain the required qualities of a good BLS professional.
Responsibilities of a BLS professionalBasic Life Support (BLS), is one of the core subjects in emergency first aid training in NZ, and it refers to the emergency (mobile) medical support provided to anyone who’s suffering an unexpected injury, is sick, has collapsed, and so on - before a medical professional arrives on the scene. As a result, being trained in BLS entails a variety of distinct and vital responsibilities. They are as follows:
EMCARE outlines the top 7 responsibilities of BLS:

1. You should be able to think on your feet, you can grasp a situation quickly and you are able to act calmly. You should be able to determine whether or not anyone is at risk, the source of the problem, and the number of individuals affected.
   
2. Keeping calm, taking command of the situation, comforting and reassuring the patient, explaining to him/her what has happened and what you’re about to do before actually doing it.
   
3. Keep yourself and the victim safe and secure. Always put your own safety first, and move the victim(s) only if doing so will be good for them (or if it's possible at all).
   
4. Keep the disease from spreading between you and them. Keep your hands washed and/or sanitised, wear your disposable gloves at all times. Do not cough or sneeze over a casualty.
   
5. Being one of the cores of emergency medical training in NZ, BLS requires you to evaluate the fatality thoroughly. If there are several casualties, you must initially help those who are suffering from life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
   
6. Learning to use CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) or applying pressure on bleeding wounds are crucial examples of emergency medicine training and BLS programmes. Before treatment, it’s important to know what to prioritise between a serious life-threatening emergency and a general case.
   
7. Make arrangements for the correct kind of assistance. If it's critical then call an ambulance, or take/send them to a hospital. If the disease, illness or casualty worsens, advise them to consult a doctor for less serious conditions. You should always stay with them until you are confident that they are in good hands.
   

Need a course?EMCARE online courses will teach you everything you need to know to spot any emergency situations, treat problems and reactions, and take appropriate action in the event of an incident.
Characteristics of a good emergency responderTo become a successful BLS professional,and to equip you to deal with emergency situations as effectively and efficiently as possible, you need the following skills: 
Communication skillsIf you can communicate with the injured person, they are more likely to trust you and feel reassured. You will help relieve their anxiety and make the situation easier for both of you. Strong communication skills are a big advantage if you must convey critical information to emergency services.
The capability to work under stressA BLS professional’s responsibilities can range from something as simple as a cut finger to something far more strenuous, such as a cardiac arrest. You must be prepared for any situation and know how to act quickly. You must maintain your cool – panicking will only make things worse – and be able to work effectively under pressure.
The correct type of emergency medicine training in NZ (like Emcare) will give you great leverage, give you hands-on training on how to deal with critical conditions, and build a strong foundation for your career in this field.
Learning to be intuitiveIn an emergency, time can often make or break the overall result. It is essential to be able to act quickly, take the lead, use your initiation and trust your judgement.
The Capability to Work in a TeamIt is quite essential that you learn to work (and/or lead) in a team. You may need to work with emergency services, and your ability to cooperate with them is critical.
PositivitySomeone who has the right amount of positivity in their attitude is an excellent candidate for becoming a BLS pro. This kind of positivity will help you reassure the injured person and prevent you from becoming mentally drained while on the job.
Are you now intrigued to learn basic life support? Want to know what it’s like to participate in emergency first aid training in NZ? Or just be there for someone who needs medical attention at an unexpected hour? Contact EMCARE if you want to understand more about Basic Life Support today!