Advanced life support (ALS), is also known as Advanced cardiac life support or advanced Cardiovascular life support. It is a life-saving technique and skill that extends beyond Basic life support (Basic Life Support). These techniques are used to provide urgent treatment for cardiac emergencies such as cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, shortness of breath Heart Attack, and other emergency conditions.
Here we will discuss all about it and how can we save someone’s precious life with the help of these techniques and steps:
Here are five of the critical actions that should be performed at the time of a Cardiac emergency.
- Immediate action if you recognize cardiac arrest like calling the nearest Ambulance or activating the emergency response system.
- Performing high-quality CPR with an emphasis on chest compression
- Provide rapid Defibrillation.
- Provide effective life support.
- Provide integrated life support and post-cardiac arrest care.
What Is Basic Life Support?
Anyone experiencing cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, heart attack, or any other life-threatening emergency can access these tools and life-saving techniques. BLS maintains the patient’s breathing, circulation, and airway until the advanced medical support team gets there.
The Differences Between Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support?
Basic life support (BLS) is one of the most essential medical skills that is used to handle patients with life-threatening sickness. BLS needs to have good knowledge and skills related to CPR, the use of AED, and relieving airway obstructions. Emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and even someone who is a qualified bystander can perform BLS.
ALS should be only performed by paramedics and healthcare experts who have gone through more extensive training than an EMT. As it required all the skills of performing CPR, use of AEDs, Defibrillation, and other equipment used while performing this task.
Some Other Key Differences Between Advanced Life Support And Basic Life Support
| Advanced life support | Basic life Support |
| ALS providers are authorised to perform Invasive procedures. | BLS provider is unauthorised to perform Invasive procedures. |
| The ALS unit has at least one paramedic. | The BLS unit has two medical emergency technicians . |
| ALS unit is well equipped with all the advanced pieces of equipment, cardiac monitors, defibrillators, IV fluids, medications, and many more. | Whereas BLS may have few of them as it has to take patients to the ALS in any hospital and healthcare . |
| ALS aim is to provide all the life-saving measures to save the life of the patient. | BLS aim is to stabilise the patient and provide basic life-saving measures. |
| ALS provides advanced medical care and trained healthcare professionals with specialised training and types of equipment. | BLS focuses on basic life-saving procedures and techniques or we can say minimally trained as quick responders. |
The Equipment Do We Need to Provide ACLS
Some of the important equipment required and trained advanced cardiac life support to handle the case of a cardiac emergency are as follows:
- Monitor/Defibrillator: it helps to monitor the ECG and rapidly deliver a defibrillating countershock to the patients who are suffering from ventricular fibrillation during a cardiac arrest.
- Impedance Threshold Device: it helps to increase cardiac output and organ blood flow during cardiopulmonary rescue (CPR).
- Ventilator: This is a machine that helps to function lungs and bellows to move air in and out of your lungs.
- Suction equipment: It is also called an aspirator. It is a type of medical device that is mainly used for removing obstructions — like mucus, saliva, blood, and other secretions of patients.
- Oxygen Delivery equipment: These are helpful for patients who are unable to breathe these act as helping devices like- Home Oxygen Concentrators, Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC), Compressed Oxygen, Liquid Oxygen, Nasal Cannulas, Facemasks, Humidifiers etc.
- Medication and drug equipment: ALS carry various medicines and drugs with them such as cardiac, respiratory, pain, antiemetics, etc with them so they can provide it to patients.
- IV supplies: IV fluids are liquids that are injected into a patient’s veins through an IV (intravenous) tube to prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- Diagnostic tools: ALS providers use various types of diagnostic tools to treat a patient ae like cardiac monitor, Pulse oximeters, Blood pressure cuffs, capnography devices, glucometers, thermometer, etc
There Are Some Other Diploma and Advanced Diploma Courses in Paramedical Science
One can also go through some other courses which are provided on Paramedical Science from the best paramedical college so they can grow their career and secure their professional life.
- Medical Lab Technician Course
- Radio Imaging Technology (RIT) Course
- Nursing and midwifery course
- OT Technician Course
- Hospital Administration Course
These courses are available in various forms as per time duration as certification courses Diploma Courses Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are also available.
One should choose the best paramedical college to pursue this course where all the machinery and training equipment are available so they can learn while educating themselves.