Basic Life Support (BLS)

The American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) program is designed to train responders, including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel, to respond to cardiac and other life-threatening emergencies in adults, children, and infants. The American Red Cross programs are guided by the latest evidence-based science from the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and are aligned with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR), the Red Cross Healthcare Guidelines, and current research from the global scientific community. This program reflects updated 2025 science guidelines. The primary purpose of the BLS program is to equip responders with the skills to quickly recognize cardiac arrest, provide high-quality CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to improve patient outcomes. This training also addresses other life-threatening emergencies that can lead to cardiac arrest if not promptly managed. These include respiratory arrest, drowning, opioid overdose, myocardial infarction, life-threatening bleeding, and obstructed airway. Upon successful completion of the course and after the training has been reported, you will receive a course completion certificate from the American Red Cross that includes your name, the course name, the completion date, and the certification validity period. Each American Red Cross certificate contains a QR code that can be used by participants, instructors, employers, or the American Red Cross to validate certificate authenticity. BLS certification is valid for 2 years.