Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is one of the two Advanced Life Support programs offered by our providers. Because ALS programs are meant to be a level of medical help higher than the Basic Life Support programs for the general public, PALS is only available to people who work in healthcare or are studying healthcare as an undergraduate program. Compared to the other ALS program – ACLS or Advanced Cardiac Life Support – PALS focuses on teaching training CPR for pediatric victims. The program is a long, comprehensive training class that offers high quality lessons for amazing rates. To find a PALS course click here.
What is ALS?
ALS or Advanced Life Support, is a higher level than Basic Life Support. With that said, ALS is primarily directed towards people who study healthcare or are working in healthcare. The ALS program is built on the life support guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) who give out periodic updates on how to give CPR to victims of cardiac arrest. The main difference between BLS and ALS curriculum is the approach used in giving CPR.
What is PALS?
BLS is focuses on a one-person rescue or two-person rescue (for the program, BLS for healthcare providers). ALS is focused on the team approach in giving CPR, primarily seen with a code team in the hospital or clinic. The team approach revolves around 4-5 members who all perform specific roles during a “code”. “Code” is the term used to describe an emergency situation wherein a patient has gone into cardiac arrest. The team members have different purposes: leadership and chest compressions. rescue breaths, giving medication, and timing the code.
PALS teaches students to use the team approach in answering a code where the victim is pediatric. Adults are typically 18 years old and older, or even younger teenagers who have the same stature as an adult. Pediatric patients are infants (12 months) up to younger and smaller teenagers. Neonates have different set of CPR guidelines to follow. PALS focuses on how to use a crash cart, a cart that is complete with all the medical equipment – intravenous sets, pediatric bag valve masks – and medications. The correct dosage for medication is very important in a PALS training program. These carts can be found in all medical settings, primarily hospitals.
Details of the PALS program
The PALS program offered by our providers are 14-hour programs that are completed over 2 days. It is a mandatory certification course, with a skills and written exam given before and after the program. Trainees who want to enrol in a PALS program are required to have an existing BLS for healthcare providers completion card/certificate. To qualify for the program, trainees need to complete all these requirements.
The certificate awarded to a trainee at the end of the program is only valid for two years, after which a student has to take a renewal program before the actual expiration date. Trainees with expired certification need to retake the PALS program.