AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 
BLS, ACLS, PALS

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

The BLS for Healthcare Providers course covers core material such as adult and pediatric CPR (including two-rescuer scenarios and use of the bag mask), foreign-body airway obstruction and automated external defibrillation. The course is designed for medical providers such as physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, respiratory therapists and other professionals who may respond to a cardiovascular emergency and who must have a credential (card) documenting successful completion of a Healthcare Provider CPR course.

ADVANCED CARDIAC LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS)

ACLS is an advanced, instructor-led classroom course that highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac arrest care. It also covers airway management and related pharmacology. In this course skills are taught in large group sessions and small group learning and testing stations where case-based scenarios are presented. ACLS is based on simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students will practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units. Upon successful course completion, including demonstration of skills competency in all learning stations and passing the CPR and AED skills test, bag-mask ventilation skills test, a Megacode test and a written test, students receive an ACLS course completion card, valid for two years.

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The ACLS Course includes:

• Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

• Proficiency in Basic Life Support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and use of an (AED)

• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest

• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia and symptomatic tachycardia

• Airway management

• Related pharmacology

• Identifying and management of stroke

• Identifying and management of ischemic chest pain and acute coronary syndromes

• Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team

• Effective Resuscitation Team Dynamics

PEDIATRIC ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (PALS)