What Is PALS?
PALS stands for Pediatric Advanced Life Support. It is the American Heart Association’s course, and the level of care, for recognising and treating infants and children who are seriously ill or injured — ideally before they arrest, and effectively if they do.
PALS in one sentence
PALS is advanced paediatric emergency care — systematic assessment, management of respiratory failure and shock, rhythm disturbances, cardiac arrest and post-arrest care in infants and children — taught by the AHA to healthcare professionals and certified for two years.
Most paediatric cardiac arrests are the end point of a respiratory problem or shock. PALS therefore teaches a structured way to look at a sick child — the PALS systematic approach — so that you can say how sick they are, what type of problem it is, and what to do next.
BLS is the foundation for all ages. ACLS is advanced care for adults. PALS is advanced care for infants and children. Many emergency clinicians hold all three; our PALS vs ACLS guide compares the two advanced courses.
Paediatric and emergency doctors and nurses, neonatal and paediatric intensive care teams, anaesthetists, paramedics and other clinicians who may treat a critically ill child. See who needs PALS in the UAE.
On passing, you receive the AHA PALS Provider eCard, valid for two years. The renewal guide explains what happens next.
Other life support and first aid courses: BLS Course · ACLS Course · First Aid Course · Training calendar
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (spelled Paediatric in British English).
Infants and children beyond the newborn period. Newborn resuscitation at delivery is covered by NRP.
No. Emergency staff, anaesthetists, paramedics, intensive care teams and nurses who care for children all take PALS.
An American Heart Association training centre issues the AHA PALS Provider eCard after you pass. SFMS is an AHA training centre in Abu Dhabi.
Yes. Child and infant high-quality CPR is taught and tested as part of the course.
Safety First Medical Services is an American Heart Association training centre on Al Reem Island. HeartCode blended PALS, classroom PALS and on-site group sessions for paediatric, emergency and neonatal teams, with a two-year AHA PALS Provider eCard on completion.
See PALS dates and register Classroom PALS course 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.