EPLS Course /European Pediatric Life Support/

Aims of course:

·    Medical personnel training in range of early recognition of child in state of respiratory or circulatory insufficiency.

·    To broaden knowledge and practical skills required to carry out interventions preventing the progress of respiratory insufficiency or cardiac arrest in pediatric patients.

Addressees of course:

Medical personnel: physicians, nurses, medical rescuers working directly with pediatric patients. They should possess the professional experience and proper medical qualifications.

Program:

1.   Preparations before the course:  each participant is given handbooks for the course /at least month before the course/ with command of familiarization with its content and Pre-test. This is a test of choice which aim is to evaluate initial knowledge of the candidates. Result does not influence on the end mark of the course.

2.   The course lasts two days. Exercises are led by instructors of European Resuscitation Council. The course comprises lectures, shows, discussions and working stations. One of the elements of teaching are also the scenarios simulated on manikins adjusted to performance of advanced life support (venal access, mechanical ventilation, intubation, possibility of arrhythmias generation, defibrillation performance).

Lectures:

Recognition of seriously ill child.

Introduction to airways supply.

Arrhythmias.

Patient after injury – supply.

Resuscitation of infant.

Post-resuscitation care.

Discussion:

Ethics in resuscitation

Working stations:

Basic life support.

Algorithm of action in case of foreign body in airways.

Airways support.

Stabilization of cervical spine - immobilization.

Venal access. Fluid therapy, drugs.

Safe defibrillation.

Arrhythmias.

Scenarios:

Respiratory insufficiency.

Cardiac insufficiency – injuries.

Cardiac arrest.

Resuscitation of infant.

Shows:

Demonstration of actions by the group of experienced instructors, whose aim is to pass, on the basis of simulated scenarios, an ability of evaluation of critically ill child and to make proper therapeutic decisions. They are performed using the elements of positive criticism.

Evaluation:

Bases on few elements. Practical credit concerns knowledge of algorithms of action in case of foreign body presence in the airways, basic life support. Skills of participants are evaluated also during the examination scenarios. A theoretical credit is test of choice, covering a material from the course.