Current status and the importance of basic life support training in Turkey and the World

Abstract

The aim of this review is to present the current status and importance of basic life support training in Turkey and the world. Basic Life Support (BLS) is a set ofbasic life-saving proceduresperformed after cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important causes of mortality in many countries today. In 2015, 31% (17.7 million) of all deaths worldwide were caused by cardiovascular diseases. Healthcare personnel constitute an important group in increasing the survival rate after cardiopulmonary arrest. However, studies have shown that healthcare personnel in many countries are not sufficiently capable in BLS application. In the USA, nurses are required to receive BLS training. In addition, in many countries with advanced emergency medicine systems, education of the public in this topic is emphasized. In Switzerland, 19% of the country's population is trained and certified for BLS. Prioritized education of the young population and especially the education of the relatives of cardiac patients is also emphasized. It has been shown that in incidents where the response time of healthcare personnel exceeds four minutes, BLS practiced by witnesses at the scene directly influences survival rates. In terms of BLS applications, survival rates will increase as more and more people are included in training programs. Therefore, there is a need for training programs that are easier to access, effective and repeatable.