Who is responsible for calling emergency services during a BLS scenario?

In a Basic Life Support scenario, the responsibility for calling emergency services is ideally placed with any rescuer who can perform the task effectively, with a preference for the one who is performing chest compressions. This approach ensures that the person providing the critical compressions, which are vital for maintaining blood circulation to the brain and heart during cardiac arrest, can continue that crucial life-saving action without interruption.

If the rescuer performing compressions were to leave the victim to make the call, there would be a delay in the sequence of life-saving efforts, which could negatively impact the victim's chance of survival. Therefore, having someone else, preferably a bystander or another rescuer, call emergency services while the compressions continue is crucial.

While it's true that the first rescuer on the scene can call for help, focusing on the one performing compressions maximizes the effectiveness of care being provided at that moment. The victim or bystanders might not be trained appropriately for such emergencies and could hesitate in making the call, which is why they are less preferred in this role. The person with the most medical knowledge might be less effective in this specific moment if they are not directly involved in performing the compressions, hence the emphasis on prioritizing uninterrupted compressions.