Ace the Basic Life Support (BLS) Challenge 2026 – Breathe Life into Your Skills!

Beginning CPR immediately after recognizing a patient is in cardiac arrest is crucial for increasing the chances of survival. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, their heart stops pumping blood effectively, meaning that vital organs, including the brain, are deprived of oxygen. The longer blood circulation is halted, the greater the risk of irreversible damage or death.

Starting CPR right away provides some level of artificial circulation, which helps to maintain blood flow to the vital organs until more advanced medical help can take over. This immediate action can significantly improve outcomes for the patient.

In scenarios where additional help is necessary, the protocol suggests that if another trained individual is present, one person can start CPR while the other calls for emergency assistance. However, if alone and you recognize cardiac arrest, prioritizing CPR is essential since every second counts. Checking for a pulse can cause unnecessary delays, which could detriment the patient's chance of survival.