title: Resuscitation. 1: Basic life support.
abstract: Basic life support (BLS) is a method of sustaining vital functions in a person who has collapsed and is unconscious, frequently with a cardiac arrest but sometimes with respiratory arrest, choking or other cause. BLS is a vital link in the 'chain of survival' for these critically ill people.
authors.affiliation: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scollon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000628:therapy