PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Complete Online Course Material (Combined Level – No Basic/Advanced Separation)

Course Overview

PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support is a comprehensive online training program designed to provide healthcare professionals and emergency responders with the knowledge and skills required to assess, recognize, and manage critically ill or injured pediatric patients. The course focuses on pediatric emergency assessment, respiratory failure, shock, cardiac arrest management, resuscitation principles, and post-cardiac arrest care.

• Delivery Method: 100% Online Learning
• Training Format: Self-paced modules, videos, presentations, case studies, assessments, and final examination
• Target Audience: Physicians, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical staff, pediatric healthcare providers, and clinical professionals.

Module 1: Introduction to Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Learning Objectives

Participants will understand:

• The importance of pediatric emergency care
• Differences between pediatric and adult emergencies
• Principles of pediatric resuscitation
• The role of teamwork during pediatric emergencies

Topics Covered

• Overview of PALS principles
• Pediatric emergency survival chain
• Pediatric physiology and age-related differences
• Common causes of pediatric deterioration
• Recognition of life-threatening conditions

Module 2: Pediatric Assessment Approach

Learning Objectives

Participants will learn systematic assessment of critically ill children.

Topics Covered

Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT)

• Appearance
• Work of breathing
• Circulation to skin

Primary Assessment (ABCDE)

Airway

• Airway anatomy differences in children
• Airway obstruction recognition
• Airway management principles

Breathing

• Respiratory rate assessment
• Respiratory distress signs
• Respiratory failure recognition
• Oxygen therapy principles

Circulation

• Heart rate assessment
• Perfusion evaluation
• Capillary refill assessment
• Shock recognition

Disability

• Neurological assessment
• Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale
• AVPU assessment

Exposure

• Temperature assessment
• Injury identification
• Complete patient evaluation

Module 3: Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies

Learning Objectives

Participants will identify and manage pediatric breathing problems.

Topics Covered

Respiratory Distress

• Upper airway obstruction
• Lower airway diseases
• Lung tissue problems
• Respiratory control disorders

Common Pediatric Respiratory Conditions

• Asthma
• Croup
• Bronchiolitis
• Pneumonia
• Foreign body aspiration

Respiratory Failure

• Recognition signs
• Progression from distress to failure
• Oxygen management
• Ventilation support principles

Module 4: Pediatric Shock Management

Learning Objectives

Participants will understand recognition and treatment of pediatric shock.

Topics Covered

Types of Shock

• Hypovolemic shock
• Distributive shock
• Cardiogenic shock
• Obstructive shock

Shock Recognition

• Increased heart rate
• Poor perfusion
• Altered mental status
• Low blood pressure (late sign)

Management Principles

• Fluid therapy concepts
• Monitoring response to treatment
• Medication considerations
• Prevention of deterioration

Module 5: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Management

Learning Objectives

Participants will understand pediatric cardiac arrest response.

Topics Covered

Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Recognition

• Signs of cardiac arrest
• Causes of pediatric arrest
• Early intervention importance

High-Quality CPR

Chest Compressions

• Compression depth
• Compression rate
• Compression-to-ventilation ratio
• Minimizing interruptions

Ventilation Support

• Bag-mask ventilation principles
• Oxygen administration
• Airway support methods

AED and Defibrillation

• AED use in children
• Defibrillation principles
• Safety considerations

Module 6: Pediatric Advanced Life Support Algorithms

Topics Covered

Bradycardia Management

• Recognition of unstable bradycardia
• Causes of pediatric bradycardia
• Intervention principles

Tachycardia Management

• Narrow-complex tachycardia
• Wide-complex tachycardia
• Stable vs unstable patient approach

Cardiac Arrest Algorithm

• Initial response
• CPR cycles
• Rhythm evaluation
• Medication considerations
• Reversible causes

Module 7: Pediatric Airway Management

Topics Covered

Airway Assessment

• Signs of airway compromise
• Airway positioning
• Airway protection

Airway Support Equipment

• Oxygen delivery devices
• Bag-mask ventilation
• Advanced airway concepts

Airway Emergencies

• Choking
• Foreign body obstruction
• Anaphylaxis-related airway problems

Module 8: Pediatric Emergency Medications

Topics Covered

Medication Principles

• Weight-based medication dosing
• Medication safety
• Pediatric drug calculations

Common Emergency Medications

• Epinephrine principles
• Amiodarone principles
• Atropine principles
• Adenosine principles
• Fluid resuscitation medications

(Medication administration should always follow current approved clinical guidelines and local protocols.)

Module 9: Pediatric Trauma and Injury Management

Topics Covered

Common Pediatric Emergencies

• Head injuries
• Burns
• Fractures
• Drowning incidents
• Poisoning
• Electrical injuries

Trauma Assessment

• Primary survey
• Secondary survey
• Stabilization principles

Module 10: Neonatal and Infant Emergency Considerations

Topics Covered

• Differences between infants and children
• Infant airway considerations
• Infant CPR principles
• Pediatric vital sign differences
• Recognition of neonatal emergencies

Module 11: Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

Topics Covered

• Stabilization after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
• Oxygen and ventilation management
• Temperature management principles
• Neurological monitoring
• Preventing secondary injury

Module 12: Pediatric Emergency Team Dynamics

Topics Covered

• Team roles during resuscitation
• Effective communication
• Leadership principles
• Closed-loop communication
• Human factors in emergency response

Module 13: Pediatric Case Scenarios

Case Studies Include:

• Pediatric respiratory failure
• Septic shock
• Anaphylaxis
• Cardiac arrest
• Severe trauma
• Altered consciousness
• Arrhythmia emergencies

Participants analyze:

• Assessment findings
• Treatment priorities
• Emergency response decisions

Module 14: Infection Prevention and Patient Safety

Topics Covered

• Standard precautions
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Safe emergency procedures
• Prevention of healthcare-associated infections

Module 15: Final Assessment & Certification

Assessment Components

• Online knowledge examination
• Case-based questions
• Pediatric emergency scenario evaluation

Certification Requirements

• Completion of all online modules
• Passing final assessment
• Certificate issuance

Course Duration

Recommended Online Duration: 8–12 Hours

Course Completion Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Perform systematic pediatric emergency assessment
• Recognize respiratory failure and shock
• Apply pediatric resuscitation principles
• Understand pediatric cardiac arrest management
• Support emergency airway management
• Identify pediatric arrhythmias
• Participate effectively in pediatric emergency teams
• Apply evidence-based pediatric emergency care principles

Note: This online course provides theoretical knowledge and competency preparation. Practical skills validation (such as hands-on CPR, airway management, and simulation training) may be required by certain healthcare authorities or employers.