Overview:
This course builds on the ILS course, and will prepare senior members of a multi-disciplinary team to manage peri-arrest situations and treat the patient until transfer to a critical care area. The complexity and management of cardiac arrest situations, including decision making and effective communication with the team and the patient’s relatives is included. This course is designed for healthcare professionals who would be expected to apply the skills taught as part of their clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis e.g. A&E, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, medical admissions units, or on the cardiac arrest/medical emergency team and paramedics.

Entry requirements:
All applicants must hold a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification e.g. medical doctor, RGN, IHCD paramedic. It is expected that all candidates are competent in performing basic life support (BLS) and this must be achieved prior to attending the ALS course.

Course includes:
Sick patients structured approach advanced life support in perspective, causes and prevention of cardiac arrest, acute coronary syndromes. ALS universal treatment algorithm, post resuscitation care, airway management, monitoring, rhythm recognition and 12-lead ECG defibrillation (paddles and hands free adhesive pads), tachycardias and bradycardias, blood gases, cardiac arrest management (CASTeach), cardiac arrest in special circumstances (immersion/submersion, including hypothermia, pregnancy, poisoning, asthma, anaphylaxis, hypovolaemia), ethics, DNAR, legal aspects.