Summary of Our AHA PALS Course:
- Besides the Basic Life Support, BLS and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, ACLS Courses, we also offer the Pediatric Advanced Life Support, PALS Course.
- This course is offered in our College STRICTLY under the GUIDELINES of the American Heart Association, AHA.
- All the course work, teaching materials(manuals) are from the AHA. ALL the information presented in the PALS Course outline below is adapted from the AHA PALS Provider Manual.
- Our Instructors are certified by the AHA and validity of their credentials can be confirmed on the AHA Instructor Network on their website.
PALS Target Group:
- PALS aims to provide the requisite advanced knowledge and skills to those healthcare providers who are directly involved in offering critical cardiovascular care to pediatric patients both in in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings.
- It’s very beneficial to those who work in ICU, CCU, HDU, etc.
- The target group also includes Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, Nurses, Clinical Officers, Doctors, etc.
Course Cost and Duration:
- The PALS Course takes three (3) days and cost twenty-five thousand (25,000) shillings.
- It’s an intensive 0800hrs-1700hrs course for the three days.
Certification and Certificate Validity
- Certificates are issued by the AHA, and are issued immediately after completion of the course (last day of training)
- Certificates are valid for two (2) years from the date of issue
PALS Recertification
- After the expiry of the PALS certificate, one is required to recertify. This simply means that one has to redo the course because of the periodic emergency cardiovascular care guidelines and updates from the American Heart Association which also demand that healthcare providers should be retrained and recertified.
- Charges are the same as the initial class
- Recertification is usually done after course completion
- Recertification is also issued by the AHA
Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Course
Part 1: Course Overview
Course Objectives
Goal of the PALS Provider Course
Learning Objectives
Course Description
Pre course Preparation
Pre course Self-Assessment and Pre course Work
BLS Skills
ECG Rhythm Identification
Basic Pharmacology
Practical Application of Knowledge to Clinical Scenarios
Course Materials4
PALS Provider Manual
PALS Reference Card
PALS Student Resources
Course Completion Requirements
Science Update
Major Science Changes in 2020
Respiratory Rate
Cuffed Endotracheal Tubes
Cricoid Pressure
Early Epinephrine
Diastolic Blood Pressure to Guide CPR
Seizures After Cardiac Arrest
Septic Shock
Opioid Overdose
The Chain of Survival
Overview
Chain of Survival Elements
Part 2: Review of BLS and AED for Infants and Children
Learning Objectives
BLS for Infants and Children
Pediatric BLS Algorithm for Healthcare Providers—Single Rescuer
Infant and Child 1-Rescuer BLS Sequence
Infant/Child Chest Compressions
Infant/Child Breaths
Pediatric BLS Algorithm for Healthcare Providers—2 or More Rescuers
Infant and Child 2-Rescuer BLS Sequence
AED for Infants and Children Younger Than 8 Years
Be Familiar with the AED Equipment in Your Setting
Delivering a Pediatric Shock Dose
Choosing and placing the AED Pads
Using an AED for Infants
Part 3: High-Performance Teams
High-Performance Team Roles and Dynamics
Roles in a High-Performance Team
Elements of Effective Team Dynamics as Part of a High-Performance Team
Part 4: Systematic Approach to the Seriously Ill or Injured Child
Learning Objective
Initial Assessment to Identify a Life-Threatening Condition
Identify a Life-Threatening Condition and Act
Initial Assessment
Appearance
Breathing
Circulation (Color)
Evaluate-Identify-Intervene
Evaluate
Identify
Intervene
Continuous Sequence
Primary Assessment
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
Exposure
Secondary Assessment
H’s and T’s
Focused History
Focused Physical Examination
Ongoing Reassessment
Diagnostic Assessments
Arterial Blood Gas
Venous Blood Gas
Capillary Blood Gas
Hemoglobin Concentration
Arterial Lactate
Invasive Arterial Pressure Monitoring
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Chest X-Ray
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Part 5: Recognizing and Managing Cardiac Arrest
Learning Objective
Rapidly Intervene to Prevent Cardiac Arrest
Life-Threatening Problems
Interventions
Cardiac Arrest in Infants and Children
Survival Rates from Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
Definition of Cardiac Arrest
Pathways to Cardiac Arrest
Hypoxic/Asphyxial Arrest
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Causes of Cardiac Arrest
Identifying a Child at Risk for Cardiac Arrest
Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
Arrest Rhythms
Managing Cardiac Arrest
High-Quality CPR
Monitoring for CPR Quality
PALS in Cardiac Arrest
Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm
Part 6: Effective High-Performance Team Dynamics
Learning Objective
Roles in a High-Performance Team
Team Leader Role
Team Member Roles
Elements of Effective High-Performance Team Dynamics
Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Knowing Your Limitations
Constructive Interventions
Communication
Summarizing and Reevaluating
Part 7: Recognizing Respiratory Distress and Failure
Learning Objective
Fundamental Issues Associated with Respiratory Problems
Impaired Oxygenation and Ventilation in Respiratory Problems
Physiology of Respiratory Disease
Identifying Respiratory Problems by Severity
Respiratory Distress
Respiratory Failure
Auscultation With a Stethoscope
Identifying Respiratory Problems by Type
Upper Airway Obstruction
Lower Airway Obstruction
Airway Obstruction and Respiratory Rate
Lung Tissue Disease
Disordered Control of Breathing
Summary: Recognizing Respiratory Problems Flowchart
Part 8: Managing Respiratory Distress and Failure
Learning Objective
Rescue Breathing
Respiratory Arrest
Rescue Breathing
Initial Management of Respiratory Distress and Failure
Principles of Targeted Management
Managing Upper Airway Obstruction
General Management of Upper Airway Obstruction
Specific Management of Upper Airway Obstruction by Etiology
Managing Lower Airway Obstruction
General Management of Lower Airway Obstruction
Specific Management of Lower Airway Obstruction by Etiology
Managing Lung Tissue Disease
General Management of Lung Tissue Disease
Specific Management of Lung Tissue Disease by Etiology
Managing Disordered Control of Breathing
General Management of Disordered Control of Breathing
Specific Management of Disordered Control of Breathing by Etiology
Summary: Managing Respiratory Emergencies Flowchart
Resources for Managing Respiratory Emergencies
Bag-Mask Ventilation
Suctioning
Oropharyngeal Airway
Oxygen Delivery Systems
Nebulizer
Metered-Dose Inhaler
Pulse Oximetry
Endotracheal Intubation
Part 9: Recognizing Shock
Learning Objective
Defining Shock
Pathophysiology of Shock
Components of Tissue Oxygen Delivery
Stroke Volume
Compensatory Mechanisms
Effect on Blood Pressure
Identifying Shock by Severity (Effect on Blood Pressure)
Compensated Shock
Hypotensive Shock
Identifying Shock by Type
Hypovolemic Shock
Distributive Shock
Cardiogenic Shock
Obstructive Shock
Recognizing Shock Flowchart
Part 10: Managing Shock
Learning Objective
Goals of Shock Management
Warning Signs
Fundamentals of Shock Management
Optimizing Oxygen Content of the Blood
Improving Volume and Distribution of Cardiac Output
Reducing Oxygen Demand
Correcting Metabolic Derangements
General Management of Shock
Components of General Management
Fluid Resuscitation
Summary: Initial Management Principles
Fluid Therapy
Isotonic Crystalloid Solutions
Colloid Solutions
Rate and Volume of Fluid Administration
Rapid Fluid Delivery
Frequently Reassess During Fluid Resuscitation
Indications for Administering Blood Products
Complications of Rapid Administration of Blood Products
Glucose
Glucose Monitoring
Diagnosing Hypoglycemia
Managing Hypoglycemia
Management According to Type of Shock
Managing Hypovolemic Shock
Managing Distributive Shock
Managing Septic Shock
Managing Anaphylactic Shock
Managing Neurogenic Shock
Managing Cardiogenic Shock
Managing Obstructive Shock
Managing Shock Flowchart
Resources for Managing Circulatory Emergencies
Intraosseous Access
Color-Coded Length-Based Resuscitation Tape
Part 11: Recognizing Arrhythmias
Learning Objective
Bradycardia Definitions
Recognizing Bradycardia
Signs and Symptoms of Bradycardia
ECG Characteristics of Bradycardia
Types of Bradyarrhythmias
Tachyarrhythmias
Recognizing Tachyarrhythmias
Effect on Cardiac Output
Classifying Tachycardia and Tachyarrhythmias
Part 12: Managing Arrhythmias
Learning Objective
Principles of Managing Pediatric Arrhythmias
Management: Pediatric Bradycardia with a Pulse
Medications
Consider Transthoracic/Transvenous Pacing
Identify and Treat Underlying Causes
Pulseless Arrest
Managing Tachyarrhythmias
Pulseless Arrest Initial Management Questions
Initial Management Priorities
Emergency Interventions
Summary of Emergency Interventions
Pediatric Tachycardia with a Pulse Algorithm
Pharmacologic Conversion
Part 13: Post–Cardiac Arrest Care
Learning Objective
Goals of Therapy
Primary Goals
Post–Cardiac Arrest Care Checklist
Respiratory System
Management Priorities
General Recommendations
Cardiovascular System
Management Priorities
General Recommendations
Treatment of Shock
Administer Maintenance Fluids
Neurologic System
Management Priorities
General Recommendations
