ERC
Basic Life Support (BLS)
For anyone — no prior knowledge required.
BLS is the first level of care for a person in cardiac arrest, and at Life Support Hub you learn it together with the safe use of a defibrillator (AED).
Next scheduled session
- Date:
- Time:
- 09:30–14:00
- Duration:
- 4,5 hours
- Participants:
- up to 24,
- with practice in small groups
Taught in Greek. For a group — a company, school, team or organisation — that wants a seminar in English, we organise a separate class: write to us at info@lifesupporthub.edu.gr.
The programme
Cardiac arrest happens without warning, when the heart suddenly stops beating properly. Its electrical mechanism stops working, and so no blood reaches the brain and the other vital organs. At that moment, knowledge and composure can save a life.
What is the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack?
Although they are often confused, they are two different things. A heart attack is a "plumbing" problem: an artery supplying the heart becomes blocked, the heart keeps beating, but part of it is not properly supplied with blood. Cardiac arrest is an "electrical" problem: the heart stops completely, because its electrical impulse is interrupted. A severe heart attack can, however, cause cardiac arrest.
How do I know someone has suffered a cardiac arrest?
The signs are immediate: the person collapses, is not breathing, has no pulse and does not respond if you speak to them or shake them.
What is the first thing I should do?
Call the emergency services (112) immediately. Then, if you are trained, start Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Time is your greatest enemy.
CPR is not knowledge only for health professionals, it is for each of us. It may prove to be the most valuable lesson of your life, the one that gives a fellow human a second chance.
What will you do on the course?
The training is mainly hands-on. You will practise chest compressions and rescue breaths on a manikin, learn to recognise cardiac arrest within seconds, and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a realistic scenario. CPR is not learned by reading — it is learned with your hands.
Where are the courses held and what certification do you get?
Life Support Hub's first-aid courses are held mainly in Athens: our base is in Alimos, and classes are also held at partner organisations' premises across Attica. We also travel all over Greece, depending on the schedule and on partnerships, and for companies the training takes place on their own premises. On successful completion you receive Basic Life Support (BLS/AED) certification from the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), which is internationally recognised.
No prior knowledge is required to attend this training. Anyone can take part.
“Excellent instructors, superbly qualified, willing to answer questions and guide us. A perfectly organized seminar by Evangelos Karagiannis, the course director, which boosts your confidence and readiness to provide First Aid. I recommend it wholeheartedly.”
The certifying body
European Resuscitation Council
The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) is the European body that sets the guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It was founded in 1988 as a non-profit organisation, with the mission of "preserving human life by making high-quality resuscitation available to all". Its guidelines, updated every five years, are a point of reference across Europe. Through a network of national councils, the ERC trains around two million people a year in 56 countries. Programmes that follow its standard lead to an internationally recognised certification.
Visit the body’s websiteFrequently asked questions
Do I need any prior knowledge?
For most programmes, no — they start from zero. Where a prerequisite exists, the programme itself says so: the Basic Instructor Course, for example, requires an active ERC BLS or PBLS certification.
Do you train schools and groups?
Yes. We offer free training to schools of every level and to the community, and through the Double Score programme a school can earn a free defibrillator. For a training at your own venue, write to us at info@lifesupporthub.edu.gr.
Can we have a seminar in English?
Yes, for a group. A company, school, team or organisation that wants a seminar in English gets a class of its own — write to us at info@lifesupporthub.edu.gr with the programme and roughly how many people. Our scheduled seminars are taught in Greek, and we do not run them bilingually: translating slows the training down.
How is the hands-on training run?
Everyone practises, however many people the session holds. In a large session, practice takes place in small groups. How many people a session holds in total depends on the venue, and differs from session to session.
Can I take a course online?
No. Every course is taught in person. Two of them — C-TECC for First Responders and ECSI Wilderness First Aid — have theory preparation you do online, on our training platform. After you register we enrol you on the platform and you receive an email with your login details; the platform holds your material and programme instructions.