PALS for Emergency Teams
Most emergency departments in the UAE see adults and children in the same shift, which is why ED staff usually hold both ACLS and a PALS course certificate. Children arrive less often, so the paediatric skills fade faster.
In short
ED doctors and nurses who see children usually need PALS as well as ACLS and BLS. The commonest paediatric emergencies in an ED are breathing problems, dehydration and sepsis, not arrest.
The team model is the same, but the thinking differs — see PALS vs ACLS. Booking them close together keeps renewal dates aligned; see ACLS for emergency nurses.
A resus bay stocked with paediatric equipment, a weight-estimation tape and pre-calculated dose charts reduce errors in a department that sees children occasionally. See weight-based dosing.
We run on-site PALS combined with ACLS and BLS where needed.
Children who look well at triage can deteriorate in the waiting room. Paediatric early warning scores and a low threshold for re-assessment, guided by the PALS systematic approach, help catch them.
ED teams increasingly allow parents to stay during resuscitation, with a named team member to support them. PALS discusses the principles.
Other life support and first aid courses: BLS Course · ACLS Course · First Aid Course · Training calendar
If the department sees children, usually yes.
Commonly yes, plus BLS.
Breathing problems, dehydration and sepsis.
Paediatric equipment, weight tapes, dose charts and regular PALS training.
Yes, with PALS, ACLS and BLS as needed.
Paediatric resuscitations are much less frequent than adult ones in most emergency departments, which is exactly why regular training and mock codes matter.
Many do, so that both cards expire around the same time and training can be planned once every two years.
Safety First Medical Services is an American Heart Association training centre on Al Reem Island. HeartCode blended PALS, classroom PALS and on-site PALS for paediatric, neonatal and emergency teams, with a two-year AHA PALS Provider eCard.
See PALS dates and register PALS course overview Group booking enquiry
What we teach follows the awarding body and the UAE health authorities. For the definitive position on a course or licensing question, these are the places to check.
Last reviewed by the training team at Safety First Medical Services, an American Heart Association training centre at Addax Office Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Call +971 55 761 9841 or email training@safetyfirstmed.ae.