BLS Certification Manual: Common Mistakes

Common Mistakes

BLS emergencies are stressful, and errors can reduce the effectiveness of resuscitation.

Recognizing common mistakes can improve performance.

Assessment Mistakes

Avoid:

• Spending more than 10 seconds checking breathing and pulse
• Treating gasping as normal breathing
• Delaying CPR because a pulse is difficult to locate
• Failing to activate emergency response promptly

Compression Mistakes

Avoid:

• Compressing too slowly or too quickly
• Using inadequate compression depth
• Excessive compression depth
• Leaning on the chest
• Bending the elbows during adult CPR
• Interrupting compressions unnecessarily
• Failing to switch compressors when fatigue reduces quality

Pediatric Compression Mistakes

Avoid:

• Using the outdated two-finger infant CPR technique
• Using inadequate depth
• Using the wrong compression-to-ventilation ratio for a two-rescuer pediatric response

Remember:

• Single rescuer: 30:2
• Two rescuers: 15:2

Ventilation Mistakes

Avoid:

• Excessive ventilation volume
• Ventilating too rapidly
• Poor mask seal
• Failing to maintain an open airway
• Pausing compressions unnecessarily once an advanced airway is in place

AED Mistakes

Avoid:

• Delaying AED application
• Touching the person during analysis
• Failing to clear before shock delivery
• Allowing pediatric pads to touch
• Delaying chest compressions after a shock or no-shock decision

Choking Mistakes

Avoid:

• Intervening when a person can cough forcefully
• Starting with abdominal thrusts instead of back blows in a responsive adult or child
• Performing abdominal thrusts on an infant
• Using the older two-finger technique for infant chest thrusts
• Performing a blind finger sweep
• Continuing responsive choking maneuvers after the person becomes unresponsive

Team Mistakes

Avoid:

• Unclear role assignments
• Multiple responders performing the same task
• Vague communication
• Failing to identify rescuer fatigue
• Ignoring feedback about CPR quality

Remember

Effective BLS depends on:

Rapid recognition → high-quality CPR → appropriate ventilation → early AED use → coordinated teamwork