What does the acronym BLS stand for?

The acronym BLS stands for Basic Life Support. This refers to the level of medical care provided to individuals who are experiencing life-threatening emergencies, particularly regarding respiratory and cardiac issues. Basic Life Support includes techniques such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Understanding BLS is crucial in emergency situations, as it can be the difference between life and death before professional medical help arrives. The focus is on maintaining adequate circulation and breathing until advanced care can take over.

The other options, while they contain elements relevant to emergency care, do not accurately reflect the established terminology used in healthcare settings. For example, "Basic Lifesaving Skills" might suggest similar competencies but is not the recognized term. "Basic Life Standards" and "Beginning Life Support" are not used to refer to this specific area of emergency care.