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Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

The American Heart Association’s PALS course is for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children. This classroom, instructor-led course uses a series of videos and simulated pediatric emergencies to reinforce the important concepts of a systematic approach to pediatric assessment, basic life support, PALS treatment algorithms, effective resuscitation, and team dynamics. The goal of the PALS course is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured children resulting in improved outcomes.

Course content

  • High-quality child CPR, AED, and infant CPR
  • Recognition of patients who do and do not require immediate intervention
  • Recognition of cardiopulmonary arrest early and application CPR within 10 seconds
  • Apply team dynamics
  • Differentiation between respiratory distress and failure
  • Early interventions for respiratory distress and failure
  • Differentiation between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock
  • Early interventions for the treatment of shock
  • Differentiation between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias
  • Clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias
  • Post–cardiac arrest management

Schedule release of classes

  • January-March classes will be released on or around the first week of October.
  • April-June classes will be released on or around the first week of January.
  • July-September classes will be released on or around the first week of April.
  • October-December classes will be released on or around the first week of July.

PALS update course

The PALS update course is intended for anyone currently certified in PALS who wishes to renew their certification. The course is offered in one day from 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. If your last PALS certification was not obtained through the Boston Children’s Hospital Training Center, proof of current certification is required. Please upload a copy of your current PALS card.

Cost:

  • $300/person: BCH employees, BCH / TS Affiliates
  • $400/person: all other participants

Please review the PALS update course learning objectives.

Important notes

Registration:

  • All participants must submit a completed registration form.
  • Participants will be accepted into classes on a first-come basis. Class size is limited.
  • A confirmation email will be sent to you within two business days or 48 hours. If you do not receive this email, then please contact our office for further assistance.
  • Providers who intend to take an update course must show a valid provider card to enroll in an update course. Anyone who exceeds the recommended renewal date will be required to take a full provider course

Changes, cancellations, and refunds:

  • Any requested changes prior to 21 business days of the scheduled course date will incur a $25 administrative fee. Changes requested with less than a 21-business-day notice are treated as a cancellation, and the participant may have to forfeit all fees.
  • All requests for refunds must be submitted with at least 21 business days prior to the first date of the class. Refunds will be issued minus a $25 administrative fee.
  • Cancellations within 21 days, “no show” candidates, participants who are late to the class, and/or do not complete the mandatory precourse work will not be allowed to participate and forfeit all fees.
  • For additional information, please refer to the Life Support Program Registration Policies and Procedures link located on our website.

PALS precourse self-assessment and preparation:

  • All participants must complete the PALS Precourse Self-Assessment. This is a mandatory requirement for participation in all PALS courses and must be completed prior to the start of the course.
  • The Precourse Self-Assessment consists of three sections: ECG rhythm identification, pharmacology, and practical application. Use this assessment to identify areas where you need to increase your knowledge.

Textbooks

Textbooks are an integral part of the students education. Each student must have the current appropriate course textbook readily available for use before, during, and after the course. Students may reuse their previous textbooks until new science guidelines are published. For Boston Children's Hospital employees, a library system of manuals has been established for use during update courses. Arrangements to borrow a course manual to prepare for a course can be made by contacting the Life Support Program.