What is the primary goal of Basic Life Support (BLS)?

The primary goal of Basic Life Support (BLS) is to sustain life until professional help arrives. This involves a series of critical actions aimed at maintaining effective circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest or experiencing another life-threatening emergency. The BLS protocols focus on recognizing the signs of such emergencies, calling for help, and providing immediate interventions like chest compressions and rescue breaths. These actions are essential for increasing the chances of survival and minimizing potential brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.

The other options do not align with the objectives of BLS. Diagnosing medical conditions is outside the scope of BLS, as it requires specialized knowledge and tools that lay responders do not possess. Comforting the victim, while important in providing emotional support, does not address the urgent physical needs in a life-threatening situation. Surgery is not within the realm of BLS; it is a complex medical procedure that requires extensive training and is performed by healthcare professionals. Thus, the main focus of BLS is to keep a person alive until advanced medical care can take over.