Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

The American Heart Association’s Pediatric Advanced Life Support course is intended for certified or non-certified, licensed or non-licensed professionals that work in a setting where advanced resuscitation care of children or infants may be performed.

 

Common participants of this course include physicians, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, physician assistants, residents and fellows, medical students, and others who will work in an acute care, surgical, or hospital settings where care is provided to children and infants.

 

This course includes the following: 

• Emphasis on Basic Life Support including skills practice
• Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• The systematic approach to pediatric patient assessment
• Recognition & Treatment of Respiratory Distress & Respiratory Failure
• Recognition of Shock Emergencies
• Recognition & Treatment of Pre-Arrest conditions
• Intraosseous access and fluid bolus administration
• Utilization of the team-resuscitation dynamic
• Treatment of cardiac arrest
• Management of stable & unstable bradycardia & tachycardias
• Opportunity to review advanced airway management

 

This course does not include:

• Formal instruction on placement of advanced airways
• Formal instruction on rhythm identification & ECG interpretation

The full certification course is designed for providers who are seeking certification for the first time or those who have let their previous certification expire. The renewal course is designed for those who have taken the course and whose card is about to expire.

 

Approximate Length: 14.5 Hours (Full Course), 8.5 Hours (Renewal)

 

Required Student Materials: Pediatric Advanced Life Support Student Manual

 

Successful performance of both a written and skills exam is required for a completion card.