DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
About this Unit
This Unit covers preparing for and providing basic life support. Note that this workforce
competence does not include the use of automated external defibrillators — this is covered in
a separate Unit within the Emergency, Urgent and Scheduled Care suite (EC18).
Scope
The scope is here to give you guidance on possible areas to be covered in this Unit. The terms
in this section give you a list of options linked with items in the performance criteria. You
need to provide evidence for any option related to your work area.
Condition could include:

conscious

unconscious
Individual could include:

child or young person

adult of working age
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older person

pregnant woman
Techniques for establishing an open airway could include:

head tilt/jaw thrust

opening and clearing airway of visible oral obstructions

back slaps

abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre/chest thrusts)
Techniques for ventilating an individual could include:

mouth to mouth

mouth to nose

mouth to mouth and nose
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
Specific Evidence Requirements for this Unit
Simulation:

Simulation is permitted for this Unit.
The following forms of evidence are mandatory:

Direct observation: Your assessor/expert witness may observe you in real work
activities which provide evidence for some of the performance criteria for this
Unit. Observations should describe actual emergencies you have dealt with.
However it is recognised that emergencies requiring basic life support may not
occur frequently, and therefore many of the performance criteria may be observed
by a witness.

Witness testimony: Can be a confirmation or authentication of the activities
described in your evidence which your assessor has not seen. This could be
provided by other work colleagues.

Reflective accounts/professional discussion: This will be a description of your
practice in dealing with a particular real emergency situation, this should also
include a description of how you interact with the individuals you are working
with when giving basic life support.
Competence of performance and knowledge could also be demonstrated using a
variety of evidence from the following:

Questioning: May be used to provide evidence of knowledge, legislation, policies
and procedures which cannot be fully evidenced through direct observation or
reflective accounts. In addition the assessor/expert witness may also ask
questions to clarify aspects of your practice.

Products — Suggestions: accident report, post incident reports, additions to
an individual’s care plan detailing the emergency etc NB Confidential records
are not required to be in your portfolio, they can remain where the are normally
stored and checked by your assessors and verifier. If they are included they must
be made anonymous

APL/Assignment/Project: You may have already completed a project or
assignment from vocationally related Qualification, you may also have evidence
from other training eg First aid course, Moving and Handling, Health and Safety,
Infection control, Personal Protective Clothing/equipment, pressure area care
course, administration and control of medicines, recording and reporting.
COSHH, communication.
General guidance




Prior to commencing this Unit you should agree and complete an assessment plan
with your assessor which details the assessment methods you will be using, and
the tasks you will be undertaking to demonstrate your competence.
Evidence must be provided for ALL of the performance criteria ALL of the
knowledge and the parts of the scope that are relevant to your job role.
The evidence must reflect the policies and procedures of your workplace and be
linked to current legislation, values and the principles of best practice within
Health Settings. This will include the National Service Standards and/or KSF for
your areas of work and the individuals you care for.
All evidence must relate to your own work practice.
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
KNOWLEDGE SPECIFICATION FOR THIS UNIT
Competent practice is a combination of the application of skills and knowledge informed by
values and ethics. This specification details the knowledge and understanding required to
carry out competent practice in the performance described in this Unit.
When using this specification it is important to read the knowledge requirements in
relation to expectations and requirements of your job role.
You need to provide evidence for ALL knowledge points listed below. There are a
variety of ways this can be achieved so it is essential that you read the ‘knowledge
evidence’ section of the Assessment Guidance.
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in
practice:
Legislation, policy and good practice
1
A working understanding of the anatomy of the respiratory system.
2
A factual awareness of the priorities in life support (ABC)
3
A factual awareness of the time frame within which assessment of
individual needs should be carried out and the life support response
initiated in order to maximise an individual’s chance of survival.
4
A factual awareness of the information which may need to be
recorded following the application of basic life support.
Basic airway management and respiration
5
A working understanding of clinical signs of airway obstruction.
6
A working understanding what to do in the event of foreign body
obstruction of an individual’s airway.
7
A working understanding of the differences in techniques needed
for ensuring an open airway on different types of individuals.
8
A factual awareness of the factors to be taken into account in
determining the technique that will lead to the best possible
outcome for the individual.
9
A working understanding of why the head tilt techniques should not
be used where neck or spinal injury is suspected.
10
A working understanding of the different techniques used to
ventilate an individual and when each should be used.
11
A factual awareness of the ventilation ratio and rate for different
types of individuals and conditions.
12
A working understanding of the importance to the outcome of the
positioning of the individual and the person applying basic life
support, including the specific positioning needs of pregnant
women in the third trimester.
13
A working understanding of the observations to be carried out to
identify adequate oxygenation in different types of individual.
Applying external chest compressions
14
A factual awareness of the rate and depth of compressions needed
for different types of individuals.
15
A factual awareness of the compression: ventilation ratio in
different types of individuals.
16
A working understanding of the procedure to establish the correct
hand/finger placement for applying external chest compression.
17
A factual awareness of the differences between certification and
diagnosis of death in accordance with best practice, and who is
authorised to carry out these activities.
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
Enter Evidence
Numbers
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in
Enter Evidence
practice:
Numbers
18
A working understanding of personal safety as well as general
health and safety, and the range of situations and responses.
19
A working understanding of why a firm base is needed for chest
compressions, and what action to take when one is not available.
20
A working understanding of the different methods of chest thrusts
and back slaps to use in the cases of children/young people and
adults.
21
A factual awareness of the compression: ventilation ratio in one and
two person Basic Life Support.
Legislation, policy and good practice
22
A working understanding of the legislation regarding confidentiality
and information sharing, the provision of services, the rights of the
individual, protection issues, anti-discriminatory practice, informed
consent, relevant mental health legislation and care programme
approach.
23
A working understanding of how to interpret and apply legislation
to the work being undertaken.
24
A working understanding of the ethics concerning consent and
confidentiality, and the tensions which may exist between an
individual’s rights and the organisation’s responsibility to
individuals.
25
A working understanding of the importance of gaining assent from
individuals who lack capacity to consent.
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
Performance criteria
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2
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5
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8
9
DO
RA
EW
Q
P
WT
Accurately and promptly confirm that the
individual’s circulation and breathing has
stopped and establish the need for basic
life support.
Ensure your actions comply at all times
with:
(a) established protocols and
guidelines
(b) evidence based best practice
(c) your own scope of practice
(d) health and safety and infection
control precautions
(e) legislation
Seek additional specialist support at the
earliest opportunity.
Check and confirm that the individual is
not breathing unaided and that
resuscitation is not contraindicated.
Use relevant, safe techniques for
clearing and opening the individual’s
airway where appropriate.
Position the individual and yourself
appropriately to apply external chest
compression and ventilation safely and
effectively taking account of:
(a) the individual’s condition
(b) the need for a sufficiently firm base
to facilitate external chest
compression
(c) the potential need to maintain
compressions and ventilation for a
prolonged period
Use the appropriate ratio when alternating
compressions with ventilation and comply
with the correct rates and depths of each,
ensuring compression is applied on the
correct site of the individual’s chest.
Monitor and evaluate the individual’s
respiratory function and the effectiveness
of compressions and ventilation,
responding promptly and appropriately to
achieve the best possible outcome for the
individual.
Cease the application of any techniques
when the individual regains airway and
circulation control.
DO = Direct Observation
EW = Expert Witness
RA = Reflective Account
P = Product (Work)
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
Q = Questions
WT = Witness Testimony
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
Performance criteria
10
11
12
DO
RA
EW
Q
P
WT
Continue ventilation and compressions
until:
(a) the individual shows clear signs of
unaided circulation and adequate
spontaneous breathing is established
(b) the individual is handed over to the
care of others
(c) you become exhausted
(d) death is confirmed by an authorised
practitioner
Accurately and clearly report the actions
you have taken, and the duration, when
handing over to a specialist
Reinstate equipment and materials to
working status after use.
DO = Direct Observation
EW = Expert Witness
RA = Reflective Account
P = Product (Work)
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
Q = Questions
WT = Witness Testimony
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DP0F 04 (CHS36)
Provide basic life support
To be completed by the Candidate
I SUBMIT THIS AS A COMPLETE UNIT
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………
Candidate’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: …………………………………………………………..
To be completed by the Assessor
It is a shared responsibility of both the candidate and assessor to claim evidence, however, it
is the responsibility of the assessor to ensure the accuracy/validity of each evidence claim and
make the final decision.
I CERTIFY THAT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PRODUCED TO MEET
ALL THE ELEMENTS, PCS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS UNIT.
Assessor’s name: …………………………………………….
Assessor’s signature: ………………………………………....
Date: …………………………………………………………..
Assessor/Internal Verifier Feedback
To be completed by the Internal Verifier if applicable
This section only needs to be completed if the Unit is sampled by the Internal Verifier
Internal Verifier’s name: ……………………………………………
Internal Verifier’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: ……………………………………..…………………………..
Unit: DP0F 04 (CHS36) Provide basic life support
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