PALS Guidelines

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) qualification and accompanying training course was developed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County reports PALS gives health care providers knowledge of pediatric resuscitation techniques.

Treatment

• According to the American Heart Association, PALS training and certification is designed to give health care professionals a framework for the treatment of critically ill and injured infants and children. PALS covers the treatment of children during an emergency situation, through the stabilization of a patient and transportation phase inside or outside a hospital environment.

PALS

• PALS training and guidelines provide information on the causes and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest in infants and children. Cardinal Glennon Medical Center information on PALS guidelines explains that cardiac failure is uncommon in children and infants, and usually is caused by another condition, such as respiratory failure and shock.

Guidelines

• Included in PALS guidelines is information on the deterioration of patients in critical emergency situations, according to Cardinal Glennon Medical Center. In intubated patients whose condition deteriorates, the DOPE guideline comes into effect, requiring the checking of equipment. Included in this guideline are checks for equipment failure and obstructions of the tube.