Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is one of our two Advanced Life Support (ALS) courses offered at Kelowna First Aid. The other course is the PALS course, short for Pediatric Advanced Life Support. ACLS training is a long training program, taking approximately 12 hours to complete. The ACLS refresher program takes half as long, around 5 to 6.5 hours to complete.
Signing Up for ACLS Training
Enrollment to any of our programs is very easy – you can sign up below, using the interactive form. We will receive your request as soon as you click submit, but we will only process it and confirm during business hours.
If you want to contact us, you may via e-mail, telephone call, or a personal visit. Our very helpful staff will be glad to assist you.
ACLS: Why You Need It
If you work in healthcare as an allied health professional, you will most likely be required to have ACLS and PALS training. ACLS training focuses on advanced life support for adult victims or patients, in an organized medical environment or a place with accessible medical equipment and medication. It highlights the important of a health care team who has been trained in managing cardiac and respiratory emergencies. These people are typically referred to as the “code team” in hospitals, emergency response organizations, and critical-care units.
ACLS core curriculum
You can expect to focus on the following concepts and skills in an ACLS class at Kelowna First Aid.
- The 2010 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
- Basic skills in chest compressions, ventilation, and defibrillation
- Recognizing cardiac emergencies like cardiac arrest and stroke
- Familiarization with a crash cart – equipment and medication
- Pharmacology – focused on cardiac medication
- Team dynamics of a code team/resuscitation team
Before applying to an ACLS program, you have a valid training credential for CPR Level C training, also known as Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers. You may take this program at Kelowna First Aid as well. It runs for 4.5 hours and serves as an introductory CPR course for people in healthcare.
Your ACLS credentials
Upon completing ACLS training, students still need to take a written test and a skills test to get certified by Kelowna First Aid. You will immediately receive your results upon completing the exam, after which we will grant you a temporary ACLS training credential. Your permanent certificate and ID will be sent to you via mail over the next few days.
Credentials are only valid for 36 months after they are first issued. You may get them renewed by signing up for an ACLS refresher course, also offered at Kelowna First Aid.
Getting started with training: Cardiac problems
CVDs or cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of mortality in most countries all over the globe. The risk factors for it are very common and hard to adjust, especially since they are all centered on diet and exercise.
Risk factors: diet high in sodium and fat, sedentary lifestyle, smoking