Which of the following is NOT a key component of Basic Life Support?

In Basic Life Support (BLS), key components focus on the immediate actions that can be taken by trained individuals to support someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Recognizing cardiac arrest early is crucial as it significantly reduces the time to intervention. This immediate recognition allows for the quick initiation of life-saving measures.

Performing high-quality chest compressions is vital because compressions help maintain blood flow to vital organs during cardiac arrest. Effective compressions provide the best chance of survival until more advanced help arrives.

Calling for help is also an essential action in BLS, as it ensures that emergency services are alerted and that additional support is on the way, which is critical for the patient’s outcome.

Providing intravenous medication, on the other hand, is not considered a component of Basic Life Support. This action is typically part of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), which is aimed at healthcare professionals trained to perform more extensive medical interventions beyond the immediate and life-saving measures in BLS. Thus, it is correctly identified as not being a key component of BLS.