Adult Basic Life Support & Medical Emergencies

Aims & Objectives:

• This basic life support-training course aims to help teach staff a basic knowledge of first aid – covering CPR, recovery position, bleeding, choking and shock.
• An introduction to basic life support (BLS)
• Why basic life support is important?
• The BLS chain of survival
• The importance of the National Early Warining Score (NEWS) system
• DRSABC systematic approach to CPR
• Check for Danger
• Check for Responsiveness
• Shout for help
• Open victim’s Airway (head tilt, chin lift)
• Check if victim is Breathing (look, listen and feel for breathing)
• If not breathing normally, call the ambulance and start delivering effective chest Compressions
• Why it is important to approach the victim safely
• The Resuscitation Council (UK) adult basic life support algorithm
• How to deliver effective chest compressions
• How to deliver effective rescue breaths
• Why it is important to continue CPR
• Knowing when to stop CPR
• When and how to position a victim in the recovery position
• How to deal with an airway obstruction by a foreign body
• An introduction to automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
• The Resuscitation Council (UK) automated external defibrillators (AED) algorithm
• Differences between the Resuscitation Council (UK) adult and paediatric BLS algorithms
• Organisational and individual responsibilities for CPR
• Localised delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Do not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNAR) orders
• Where to get additional information about adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (online learning BLS resources)

Developmental Outcome: C

The General Dental Council encourages you to choose CPD to cover all four development outcomes in your cycle:

A: Effective communication with patients, the dental team, and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints, and raising concerns when patients are at risk.

B: Effective management of self, and effective management of others or effective work with others in the dental team, in the interests of patients at all times; providing constructive leadership where appropriate.

C: Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice.

D: Maintenance of skills, behaviours and attitudes which maintain patient confidence in you and the dental profession and put patient’s interest first.