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.
The ACLS Course is designed to teach you the lifesaving skills required to be both a team member and a team leader in either an in-hospital or out-of-hospital setting. Because the ACLS Course covers extensive material in a short time, you will need to prepare for the course beforehand.
Course Content
- 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
- Airway management
- Related pharmacology
- Management of ACS and stroke
- Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
What This Course Does Not Cover
The ACLS Course does not teach ECG rhythm recognition or pharmacology. If you do not learn and understand the ECG and pharmacology information in the Precourse Self-Assessment, it is unlikely that you can successfully complete the ACLS Course.
Course Pre-Requisites
- Must complete ACLS pre-test and bring a copy of completion to class (elearning.heart.org)
- Basic understanding of EKG's and pharmacology is necessary for successful completion.
- Current ACLS Provider card (ACLS Renewals Only)