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We built this free BLS course to teach you key skills for cardiac and respiratory emergencies. Here is what you will cover:
First, you will master high-quality CPR, AED usage, and choking relief. These are the building blocks of all life-saving care.
Next, you will learn step-by-step CPR for adults. This covers both one-rescuer and two-rescuer methods. You will also gain skills for helping children and infants, including CPR and AED use for young patients.
Finally, you will study rescue breathing and full airway management. These skills help you act fast and stay calm under pressure.
We built this course for anyone who responds to cardiac or respiratory emergencies. For example, it works well for all of the following groups:
Physicians, RNs, LPNs, and other healthcare workers in ERs, ICUs, or ACCs will benefit from this training. In addition, it helps those who want to refresh their existing BLS knowledge.
Paramedics, EMTs, AEMTs, and firefighters use these skills directly at emergency scenes. Therefore, this course is a natural fit for anyone in a first-response role.
Medical, nursing, and allied health students often need BLS training as part of their program. Furthermore, completing this course early builds strong habits that last throughout a career.
Police officers, correctional officers, and probation officers may face emergencies that need immediate care. As a result, this course helps them act with confidence in high-pressure situations. © 2026 BLS Certification Online In partnership with the
Lesson Overview: Introduction to Basic Life Support (BLS)
This lesson introduces the critical concepts of Basic Life Support (BLS) and the Chain of Survival as fundamental, life-saving responses to cardiac emergencies. Because heart disease is a leading cause of death, rapid and confident action is essential to maintain blood flow and oxygen to the brain and vital organs when a person experiences cardiac arrest.
By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to prevent irreversible damage and improve a victim's chances of survival until advanced medical care arrives.
Key skills covered include:
Initiating the Chain of Survival quickly.
Delivering high-quality chest compressions.
Understanding when and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Providing proper rescue breathing.
Working effectively alongside other rescuers as a team.
Identifying and treating choking emergencies.
Here is a short description of this specific addition to the lesson:
The Unified Chain of Survival This section highlights a crucial, modern update to emergency response protocols. It introduces the 2025 standard, which streamlines cardiac emergency response by combining the previously separate Pediatric and Adult Chains of Survival into a single, unified 6-step process. The lesson emphasizes that strictly following these six sequential steps is vital for maximizing any victim's chances of surviving a cardiac event.
This lesson outlines the 2025 ILCOR Basic Life Support guidelines, emphasizing a holistic, end-to-end approach to cardiac arrest care. It highlights the critical need for immediate bystander CPR, reassuring laypeople to act without fear of causing harm. A major update is the unification of the adult and pediatric survival chains into one six-step framework. Beyond initial survival, the guidelines underscore the necessity of advanced post-resuscitation hospital care, ongoing physical and psychological rehabilitation for patients, and vital mental health support for responders. It also details specialized, urgent protocols for managing cardiac arrest during pregnancy.
This lesson breaks down the Simple Adult Basic Life Support (BLS) Algorithm, a critical, step-by-step guide for responding to adult cardiac emergencies. It outlines a continuous six-step action plan: ensuring scene safety and checking responsiveness, activating emergency services, assessing breathing, delivering high-quality CPR (30 compressions to 2 breaths), and using an AED as soon as available. Emphasizing minimal interruptions and rapid response, the algorithm is designed to standardize emergency care and significantly boost survival rates. Finally, it highlights the value of formal, accredited online BLS training to maintain these vital life-saving skills.
This lesson outlines the essential five-step action plan for responding to an adult medical emergency. First, rescuers must secure scene safety, protecting both themselves and the victim from immediate hazards like traffic or water. Next, they assess responsiveness and breathing, noting that occasional gasping is not effective breathing. The third step is activating emergency services, optimally utilizing a mobile speakerphone to avoid leaving the patient. Finally, the responder immediately initiates CPR—performing continuous cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths—and deploys an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) the exact moment one becomes available to help restore a normal heart rhythm.
This lesson details the mechanics of high-quality CPR, focusing on the ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. It emphasizes critical technical standards: a compression depth of 5–6 cm, a rate of 100–120 beats per minute, and the vital necessity of allowing full chest recoil to ensure the heart refills with blood. Rescuers are taught to quickly assess the carotid pulse and use specific airway maneuvers—head-tilt-chin-lift or jaw-thrust—based on the presence of potential spinal injuries. The ultimate goal is to maintain continuous blood circulation and oxygenation by minimizing any interruptions during the life-saving process.
This lesson focuses on the advantages of a two-rescuer team during a cardiac emergency. It details how to distribute life-saving tasks—such as delegating EMS calls, managing the airway, and operating the AED—to maintain high-quality CPR. A key emphasis is placed on switching roles every five cycles (two minutes) to combat rescuer fatigue, which often causes ineffective chest recoil. By coordinating efforts and utilizing speakerphones to stay with the patient, a two-person team can minimize interruptions in chest compressions, ensuring more consistent blood flow and improving the overall chances of a successful resuscitation.
This lesson instructs rescuers on the proper use of a pocket mask during one-person CPR. It emphasizes the "seal and tilt" technique, which involves securing the mask firmly over the victim's face while simultaneously performing a head-tilt-chin-lift to clear the airway. The goal is to provide two effective rescue breaths, each lasting one second, following every 30 chest compressions. By focusing on a tight seal and observing for chest rise, the rescuer ensures that oxygen is successfully delivered to the lungs while maintaining a hygienic barrier, ultimately supporting the vital cycle of high-quality resuscitation.
This lesson details the coordinated "E-C" clamp technique used in two-rescuer BLS when a bag-mask device is available. By positioning one rescuer at the head to manage the mask seal and airway while the other provides 30 chest compressions, the team ensures maximum oxygenation with minimal leakage. The focus is on the technical precision of the hand placement—using the thumb and index finger to seal the mask while the other fingers lift the jaw—and delivering two breaths that result in visible chest rise, highlighting the necessity of practice to master this essential life-saving skill.
This lesson provides a definitive walkthrough of the Adult BLS Algorithm, a seven-step framework designed to maximize survival during cardiac arrest. It transitions from initial safety and responsiveness checks to the technical execution of high-quality CPR and the integration of an AED. The lesson emphasizes precision—specifically a compression depth of 5–6 cm, a rate of 100–120 bpm, and the avoidance of excessive ventilation. By standardizing these actions and minimizing interruptions to less than 10 seconds, the algorithm provides a clear, evidence-based pathway for responders to improve patient outcomes through effective, coordinated intervention.
This lesson highlights the tactical differences between adult and pediatric Basic Life Support, emphasizing that children usually suffer cardiac arrest due to respiratory issues rather than primary cardiac events. Key updates include the shift to a 15:2 compression-to-breath ratio when two rescuers are present and adjusting compression depth to one-third of the chest wall. It also clarifies the sequence of activation: unwitnessed arrests require two minutes of immediate CPR to address oxygen deficits, whereas witnessed collapses follow the adult "call first" model. Overall, the lesson underscores prevention and rapid respiratory support as the most effective ways to improve pediatric survival rates.
This lesson details the specialized "provide care first" protocol for a lone rescuer responding to a pediatric cardiac emergency. It emphasizes a rapid 10-second assessment of breathing and pulse—using either the carotid or femoral sites. A critical distinction in pediatric care is highlighted: starting CPR if the heart rate falls below 60 beats per minute, even if a pulse is felt. The workflow prioritizes two minutes of high-quality CPR (30:2 ratio) before the lone rescuer activates emergency services via speakerphone, ensuring immediate oxygenation and circulation to support the child’s unique physiological requirements.
This lesson details the specialized coordination required for two-rescuer pediatric Basic Life Support. It highlights the critical shift from a 30:2 to a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio, prioritizing oxygenation for children whose cardiac arrests are frequently respiratory-driven. The protocol mandates a rapid 10-second pulse check at the carotid or femoral sites and reinforces the clinical rule to initiate CPR if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute. By delegating EMS activation and AED retrieval, the team ensures continuous high-quality compressions while preparing for defibrillation, significantly enhancing the child’s chances of a successful recovery.
The Pediatric BLS algorithm is a specialized, systematic approach for managing life-threatening emergencies in infants(under one year) and children (from one year to puberty). Because pediatric cardiac arrest is often the result of respiratory failure, these steps prioritize rapid oxygenation and high-quality circulation.
Verify Safety: Ensure the environment is safe for you and the patient.
Check Response: Gently tap the victim and shout.
For Infants: Tap the bottom of the foot.
For Children: Tap the shoulders and shout, "Are you okay?"
Witnessed Collapse: If you see the child collapse, activate EMS and get an AED immediately.
Unwitnessed Collapse (Solo Rescuer): Perform two minutes of CPR before leaving to activate EMS/retrieve an AED. If a mobile phone is available, use the speakerphone to call EMS immediately while beginning compressions.
Two Rescuers: One starts CPR while the second activates EMS and retrieves the AED.
Check for normal breathing and a pulse simultaneously for no more than 10 seconds.
Infants: Check the brachial pulse (inside of the upper arm).
Children: Check the carotid pulse (neck) or femoral pulse (groin).
The 60 BPM Rule: If the pulse is absent, or if the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute with signs of poor perfusion, begin CPR immediately.
Compression Technique:
Infants: Use the two thumb-encircling hands technique in the center of the chest (below the nipple line).
Children: Use one or two hands (depending on size) on the lower half of the sternum.
Depth: Compress at least one-third the depth of the chest (approx. 1.5 inches/4 cm for infants; 2 inches/5 cm for children).
Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute with full chest recoil.
Ratio: * One Rescuer: 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
Two Rescuers: 15 compressions to 2 breaths.
Use the AED as soon as it is available.
Pediatric Pads: Preferred for children under eight years old. If unavailable, use adult pads, ensuring they do not touch or overlap.
Follow voice prompts and resume CPR immediately after a shock or "no shock advised" message.
This lesson details the Pediatric BLS Algorithm, highlighting the essential technical differences required when treating infants and children. It emphasizes a respiratory-focused approach, utilizing a 15:2 compression-to-breath ratio for two-rescuer teams and a unique 60 bpm threshold for initiating CPR. The protocol adapts assessment sites—such as the brachial pulse for infants—and modifies compression techniques like the two-thumb encircling method. By prioritizing early intervention, proper compression depth (one-third of the chest), and the swift integration of an AED, this algorithm provides a structured pathway to improve survival rates and neurological outcomes in pediatric emergencies.
This lesson focuses on the nuances of pediatric ventilation, emphasizing that "one size does not fit all" when it comes to equipment. It details the specific criteria for pediatric mask sizing—ensuring coverage of the nose and mouth while avoiding the eyes and chin—to maintain an airtight seal. Rescuers are taught to use the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver and deliver controlled, one-second breaths. By prioritizing visual confirmation of chest rise and cautioning against excessive force, the lesson aims to maximize oxygenation while preventing complications like gastric distention and aspiration, which are common risks in pediatric resuscitation.
This lesson provides a comprehensive guide to Basic Life Support specifically tailored for infants. It outlines the crucial differences between infant and child CPR—such as pulse location, compression depth, and hand techniques—and provides a step-by-step emergency response sequence for a single rescuer handling an infant in cardiac or respiratory distress
This lesson details the emergency response protocol when two rescuers are available to assist an unresponsive infant. It highlights how to efficiently divide life-saving tasks, such as activating the emergency response system and retrieving an AED, and emphasizes the critical shift to a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for two-person infant CPR.
This lesson covers the transition from basic ventilation methods to the use of advanced airways during a resuscitation effort. It details the types of advanced airway devices, explains why early insertion is critical for patient stability, and highlights how the standard CPR compression-to-breath ratio must change once an advanced airway is successfully secured.
This lesson explains how to safely and effectively perform mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing when barrier devices (like pocket masks or bag-valve masks) are unavailable. It outlines the specific steps, proper airway positioning, and volume requirements for adults, older children, and infants, including the mouth-to-mouth-and-nose technique for the youngest patients.
In many cases, cardiac arrest is preceded by respiratory arrest. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize respiratory issues in order to take steps to prevent cardiac arrest.
When a person of any age has a pulse but is not breathing (or is not breathing well), immediately open the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver and begin rescue breathing. See Table2 for details on rescue breathing.
| AGE GROUP | HOW OFTEN | BREATHS PER MINUTE | DURATION | EVALUATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | Every 6 seconds | 10 to 12 breaths per minute | Each breath should last one second | Check for chest rise and breathing; Check pulse and begin CPR if necessary |
| Child/Infant | One rescuer: Every 6 seconds Two rescuers: Every 2 to 3 seconds |
One rescuer: 10 to 12 breaths per minute Two rescuers: 20 to 30 breaths per minute |
This lesson provides critical guidelines for identifying and responding to choking emergencies in conscious adults and children over one year old. It distinguishes between mild and severe airway obstructions and provides step-by-step instructions on how to properly execute alternating back blows and abdominal thrusts to dislodge a foreign object and prevent cardiac arrest.
This lesson provides vital instructions for handling a choking emergency in an infant under one year of age. It explains how to assess the severity of the obstruction and outlines the specific, infant-safe technique of alternating back blows and chest thrusts. Because an infant's organs are highly vulnerable, this method replaces the abdominal thrusts used on older children and adults.
