Basic Life Support-BL

Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 12:00 AM - Friday, February 2, 2029, 11:59 PM

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (5.00 hours), AAPA Category 1 Credits (5.00 hours), ADA CERP Continuing Education Credits (5.00 hours), ASWB Social Workers (5.00 hours), BOC CEU (5.00 hours), CDR CPEU Dieticians (5.00 hours), Commission on Accreditation For Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)-Basic (7.50 hours), Continuing Pharmacy Education Contact Hours (5.00 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (5.00 hours), Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours (5.00 hours)

The American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) course is a training program designed for healthcare providers and first responders to provide immediate care for life-threatening emergencies like cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, and airway obstructions in adults, children, and infants. It covers essential skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED), emphasizing a systematic approach, critical thinking, and teamwork. The course provides comprehensive, evidence-based training to build the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in critical situations.

1. Describe the Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival and how each link contributes to improving survival from cardiac arrest.
2. Apply teamwork skills, prioritizing interprofessional teamwork and communication during cardiac emergencies through simulated multiple-rescuer scenarios.
3. Integrate feedback on performance in CPR technique, emphasizing continuous improvement in skills, knowledge retention and team building.
4. Articulate the importance of high-quality CPR and its impacts on survival. 
5. Demonstrate high-quality CPR for adults, children and infants, including chest compressions and ventilations with a barrier device.
6. Explain the purpose of an AED and how it can improve survival from cardiac arrest.
7. Demonstrate how to effectively use an AED in conjunction with CPR for adults, children and infants.
8. Describe identification and management of common life-threatening conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest in adults, children and infants.
9. Examine the potential differences in basic life support care for adults, children and infants. 
10. Recognize the signs of choking and initial actions needed for adults, children and infants. 
11. Perform appropriate techniques to relieve choking in adults, children and infants.

In support of improving patient care, American Red Cross is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

American Red Cross is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).

Physician Credit Designation

American Red Cross designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurse Credit Designation

American Red Cross designates this continuing education activity for 5.0 contract hours.

Pharmacist Credit Designation

American Red Cross designates this continuing education activity for 5.0 contact hours (0.5 CEUs). (Universal Activity Number – JA0007329-0000-26-002-H05-P). This is a knowledge activity.

Physician Associate Credit Designation

American Red Cross has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 5.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 2/2/2029. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Dentist Credit Designation

American Red Cross is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the

American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.

American Red Cross designates this activity for 5.0 continuing education credits.

Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider, or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.

Social Worker Credit Designation

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Red Cross is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 5.0 clinical practice continuing education credits.

Athletic Trainer Credit Designation

American Red Cross (BOC AP#: JA 0007329) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 5.0 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program

Dietician Credit Designation

Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (1 IPCE credits = 1CPEU).

If the activity is dietetics related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (1 hour/60 minutes = 1 CPEU).

RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Logs. Performance Indicator selection is at the learner’s discretion.

American Red Cross designates this continuing education activity for 5.0 CPEUs.

Pre-Hospital Continuing Education Designation

This CE activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) for 7.5 Basic CEH. CAPCE represents that this program has met standards for accreditation and does not endorse the opinions or content presented. For more information or to register a concern, go to: https://www.capce.org/CertificateTrouble/Index

Criteria for Completion

You must complete the entire activity, including the required reading, evaluation, and competency checks/post-test in order to receive credit and obtain the CE certificate.

Licensees must provide their license numbers for record keeping purposes. Continuing education licensing/certification requirements vary by profession and state. Learners should contact their licensing/certification board or professional organization to confirm that these contact hours will be accepted.

CE Release & Expiration Dates

Release Date: February 3, 2026

Expiration Date: February 2, 2029

Privacy Statement

I understand that American Red Cross will submit a record of my course completions to the CAPCE AMS as a requirement of CAPCE accreditation. I further understand that my course completion records may be accessed by or shared with regulators such as state EMS offices, training officers, and NREMT on a password-protected need-to-know basis. In addition, I understand that I may review my record of CACPE-accredited course completions by contacting CAPCE.

Contact Information 

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity or for technical support, please contact Carlye Armstrong, CHCP at [email protected].

Privacy Policy:

To view a copy of the privacy policy, click https://www.redcross.org/privacy-policy.html.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received in writing no less than 20 days before the course will be refunded, less a 20% administrative fee. No refunds will be made on cancellations received after that date. Please send cancellation requests to [email protected].

American Red Cross reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Accessibility Statement
 
American Red Cross is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008.  If you have needs that require special accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact the CME Conference Coordinator.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

American Red Cross adheres to the Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, as well as the conflict of interest requirements of the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.