BDLS - Basic Disaster Life Support

The Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) certification is a nationally recognized program designed to provide a foundation of knowledge and skills for medical and public health professionals in disaster preparedness and response. This certification is offered by the National Disaster Life Support Foundation (NDLSF) and is geared towards a broad spectrum of healthcare professionals. 

The BDLS course prepares participants to apply a standardized approach to disaster management, ranging from natural disasters to terrorist incidents. It’s ideal for healthcare professionals wishing to enhance their abilities in managing and responding to public health emergencies and disasters.

Eligibility

List of eligibility requirements, which can be a short intro with a bulleted list.

Completion Time: 7.5 hours

Cost: Varies based on provider

The BDLS course is a 7.5-hour competency-based, awareness-level course that introduces concepts and principles to prepare healthcare professionals for managing injuries and illnesses caused by disasters and public health emergencies. The BDLS expands on, applies and reinforces information presented in the Core Disaster Life Support course. The BDLS course is designed to engage participants through interactive scenarios and group discussions.

Application Process

• Registration: Sign up for a BDLS course through the NDLSF website or an authorized training center.

• Course Participation: Attend the course and actively participate in all modules.

Certification is valid for 3 years.

Renewal Fees

Varies based on provider.

Some programs offer continuing education credits for completing the course, such as the University of Texas at Austin where participants receive 7.5 credits.

• Course materials are provided by the NDLSF and the authorized training center. These often include a BDLS manual and additional reading materials.

• Some training centers may offer additional resources such as online pre-course materials or post-course review materials.

There are two related certificates, Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS) and Advanced Disaster Life Support (ADLS).