What Is the Difference Between Basic Life Support & CPR?

Basic life support and CPR are two important pieces of emergency medical care. They both play a vital role in saving someone's life but have features that differentiate them from one another.

Definition

• CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency procedure used to revive cardiovascular function. Basic life support is defined as emergency procedures used to sustain life that includes a variety of techniques, including CPR, first aid and shock treatment.

Function

• CPR is designed to provide oxygen and blood to the body until heart and lung activity can be revived. Basic life support occurs during and after CPR in a continuous effort to save the life of the injured person.

Features

• Defining features that start the process of basic life support are the ABC's. "A" stands for "airway" and the maintenance of a clear airway. "B" stands for "breathing" and the level of respirations. "C" stands for "circulation" and an adequate amount of blood flow to supply critical organs. CPR is performed when a patient is not breathing and has no pulse. However, basic life support can be performed at anytime. For example, bleeding control is basic life support that can be administered while the patient is conscious.

Benefits

• Both basic life support and CPR are designed to sustain life in injured individuals until advanced life support (ALS) arrives or the patient reaches a hospital.

Qualifications

• The general public can take a course that will certify them in many basic life support functions, including first aid, CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Emergency Medical Technicians-Basic (EMT-B) are the most common providers for basic life support.