BLS Certification Manual: Team Roles

Team Roles

When multiple trained responders are available, assigning clear roles can improve CPR quality, reduce interruptions, and help the team respond efficiently.

Roles may be adapted based on the number of responders, available equipment, and the emergency setting.

Team Leader

The team leader coordinates the overall response.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assigning roles
• Monitoring CPR quality
• Confirming that critical tasks are completed
• Coordinating AED or defibrillator use
• Providing clear instructions and feedback
• Identifying when team members should switch roles
• Maintaining awareness of the person's condition and the overall response
• Assuming responsibility for tasks that have not been assigned

Compressor

The compressor:

• Performs high-quality chest compressions
• Maintains the correct compression rate and depth
• Allows complete chest recoil
• Minimizes interruptions
• Communicates when fatigue begins to affect compression quality
• Rotates with another compressor approximately every 2 minutes when possible

Airway

The airway responder:

• Opens and maintains the airway
• Provides rescue breaths or bag-mask ventilation
• Maintains an effective mask seal
• Watches for visible chest rise
• Avoids excessive ventilation
• Coordinates breaths with the compressor

Airway adjunct insertion or advanced airway placement should only be performed by appropriately trained providers and is outside the scope of this course.

Monitor/Defibrillator/CPR Coach

This responder:

• Retrieves and operates the AED or other appropriate defibrillation equipment
• Applies pads
• Ensures everyone is clear during rhythm analysis and shock delivery
• Helps minimize interruptions in chest compressions
• Monitors CPR performance when acting as the CPR coach
• Provides feedback about compression rate, depth, recoil, and interruptions when appropriate

Timer/Recorder

The timer/recorder helps track important events during the response.

Responsibilities may include:

• Recording the time CPR begins
• Tracking approximately 2-minute CPR intervals
• Recording AED analysis and shock events
• Tracking interruptions in chest compressions
• Announcing when compressor rotation or reassessment is approaching
• Communicating important timing information to the team leader

IV/IO/Medications

In some organized resuscitation teams, an appropriately trained advanced provider may be responsible for:

• Establishing intravenous access
• Preparing and administering emergency medications

These are advanced-provider interventions and are outside the scope of this BLS course.

BLS-trained responders should recognize this role when working as part of a larger resuscitation team but should not perform procedures beyond their training or professional scope.

Core Roles

Of the above roles, the compressor, airway responder and AED/monitor roles are considered the three essential roles in any BLS response — they must be filled even when fewer responders are available. The team leader, timer/recorder, and IV/IO/medications roles support the response but may be combined with other roles or omitted depending on the number of responders and the setting.

Adapting Team Roles

Not every emergency will have six responders.

When fewer responders are available, one person may perform more than one role. As additional trained responders arrive, tasks can be reassigned so that each person can focus on a specific responsibility. The priorities remain high-quality CPR, appropriate ventilation, early defibrillation, minimal interruptions and clear team communication.