Learn About PAL Support Certification

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Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification is provided to health care workers such as nurses, paediatricians, respiratory therapists and paramedics. The course focuses on specialized skills to make evaluations and treat both children and infants who are seriously ill, with conditions such as cardiac arrest. PALS Support Certification was developed because treatment provided to children who are critically ill, is different from adults facing the same problems. The dosages and medicines used to treat children differ from those used in adults suffering from the same conditions.  The certification course teaches systematic techniques to assessing the condition of the paediatric condition. It allows workers to be able to identify and treat fatal health conditions, for instance, cardiac arrhythmias or breathing difficulties.

Prerequisites for PALS Support Certification

In order to take part in PALS class you must first complete a basic life support class. The basic life support class is a CPR class aimed for health care workers. It includes guidelines on how to carry out CPR for infants, children and adults. There are many basic life support course providers in Canada, so it is not hard to get one.

The Course Content

The main focus of the PALS Support Certification is to teach on ways to recognize fatal health conditions in children, for example, impending respiratory failure or shock. Trainees gain skills and knowledge on how to treat children suffering from both respiratory failure and cardiac arrest including airway management. The trainees are also taught how to treat specific arrhythmias with fluids and medications and how to use a defibrillator effectively. The classes can be undertaken through local hospitals or other accredited health care organizations. In Canada, most education institutions have also started offering the course to health care workers due to increased need for paediatric care in different settings.

Validity of the Certification

PALS Support Certification is valid for a period of two years. After the expiry of this period, one is supposed to undertake a recertification class. The most important thing when choosing a PALS certification or recertification is to ensure that it is approved by the relevant authorities in the country.  The initial certification course consists of sixteen hours of testing and instructions. In most cases the class is held over the course for two consecutive days. All the content covered in the test may not be thoroughly covered during the sixteen hours of class. Therefore, it is important for trainees to review all information before attending the class. The recertification class takes eight hours long and can be done within a day.

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