ALSG Advanced Paediatric Life Support Course

Develop the knowledge, practical skills and clinical confidence required to recognise, assess, treat and stabilise seriously ill or injured children.

The Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) course is an internationally established paediatric emergency course developed by the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG). It provides healthcare professionals with a structured and systematic approach to the recognition and management of life-threatening illness and injury in children.

PLAB Guide Training Centre is an approved APLS course centre, providing candidates with the opportunity to complete this highly respected programme in Manchester.

The current APLS 7th Edition is delivered as a blended programme consisting of:

• Two days of face-to-face training
• An additional flexible one-day online learning component through the ALSG Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The face-to-face APLS course has also been approved for CPD by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

What Is APLS?

APLS is designed to help healthcare professionals manage the first critical period of a paediatric emergency using a structured, sequential approach.

The programme focuses on the recognition, assessment, immediate treatment and stabilisation of infants and children with potentially life-threatening conditions.

Since its introduction in 1993, more than 83,000 candidates have completed APLS, and its principles are used internationally in the management of paediatric emergencies.

Who Is This Course For?

APLS is particularly relevant to healthcare professionals involved in the emergency assessment and treatment of seriously ill or injured children.

Candidates commonly include:

• Emergency Medicine doctors
• Paediatricians
• Anaesthetists
• Intensive Care clinicians
• Acute-care doctors
• Consultants
• Specialty trainees
• Advanced Nurse Practitioners
• Resuscitation Training Officers
• Other eligible healthcare professionals regularly involved in acute paediatric care

ALSG specifically identifies candidates from Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia and Paediatrics among those who commonly attend the course.

Candidates must ensure that they meet the current ALSG eligibility requirements before booking.

What You Will Learn

The course develops a structured approach to the assessment and management of paediatric emergencies, including:

• Recognition of the seriously ill child
• Recognition of the seriously injured child
• Structured paediatric assessment
• Airway assessment and management
• Recognition and treatment of respiratory failure
• Recognition and management of shock
• Paediatric basic and advanced life support
• Management of cardiorespiratory arrest
• Rhythm recognition and defibrillation
• Emergency medication principles
• Neurological emergencies
• Trauma assessment and stabilisation
• Recognition of life-threatening deterioration
• Teamwork during paediatric emergencies
• Leadership and communication
• Reassessment and escalation
• Safe stabilisation prior to definitive care or transfer

A Structured Approach to the Sick Child

A core principle of APLS is the use of a systematic approach when managing a child whose condition may deteriorate rapidly.

Candidates learn to identify immediate threats and prioritise treatment rather than becoming distracted by the final diagnosis.

The emphasis is on:

1. Rapid assessment
2. Recognition of life-threatening problems
3. Immediate treatment
4. Reassessment
5. Escalation and definitive care

This approach helps clinicians remain organised even during complex and stressful paediatric emergencies.

Airway and Breathing Emergencies

Candidates develop their understanding of the recognition and management of paediatric airway and respiratory emergencies.

Teaching may include:

• Recognising airway obstruction
• Basic airway manoeuvres
• Airway adjuncts
• Oxygen therapy
• Bag-mask ventilation
• Recognition of respiratory distress and failure
• Escalation of airway support
• Management of selected respiratory emergencies

The important anatomical and physiological differences between adults and children are reinforced throughout the course.

Circulation and Shock

Candidates learn how to recognise circulatory compromise and initiate immediate treatment.

The course covers principles such as:

• Recognition of compensated and decompensated shock
• Clinical assessment of circulation
• Vascular access
• Fluid and blood-product considerations
• Recognition of different causes of shock
• Reassessment following intervention
• Early escalation in a deteriorating child

Paediatric Cardiac Arrest

Candidates practise a structured approach to paediatric cardiac arrest, including:

• Recognition of arrest
• High-quality paediatric CPR
• Appropriate ventilation
• Rhythm recognition
• Shockable and non-shockable rhythms
• Defibrillation
• Medication considerations
• Identification of reversible causes
• Team roles and communication
• Post-resuscitation stabilisation

Trauma and the Seriously Injured Child

APLS also develops the candidate's ability to assess and stabilise children following serious injury.

Training includes a structured approach to:

• Airway problems following trauma
• Breathing compromise
• Haemorrhage and shock
• Neurological deterioration
• Head injury
• Spinal considerations
• Major trauma assessment
• Safe stabilisation and transfer

The focus remains on recognising and treating immediately life-threatening problems before moving to more detailed assessment.

Neurological Emergencies

Candidates are introduced to the structured assessment and management of important neurological presentations, which may include:

• Reduced consciousness
• Seizures
• Status epilepticus
• Raised intracranial pressure
• Acute neurological deterioration

Clinical scenarios encourage candidates to combine assessment, treatment and reassessment in a time-critical environment.

Online VLE Learning

The APLS 7th Edition incorporates a flexible online learning component through the ALSG Virtual Learning Environment.

This component is an important part of the course and should be completed in accordance with the instructions provided before or alongside the face-to-face programme.

The blended structure allows candidates to complete core theoretical learning online and use the two face-to-face days for practical skills, workshops, discussion and simulation.

Two Days of Face-to-Face Training

The face-to-face component is highly interactive and practical.

Candidates can expect a combination of:

• Skills stations
• Workshops
• Interactive teaching
• Scenario-based learning
• Paediatric resuscitation simulations
• Team-based exercises
• Continuous faculty feedback
• Formal assessment as required by the course programme

The emphasis is on applying knowledge rather than simply recalling information.

The APLS Manual

The current course is supported by the Advanced Paediatric Life Support, 7th Edition manual.

The manual provides the structured approach used throughout the programme and is designed to support doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals dealing with paediatric emergencies.

Candidates should complete all required reading and VLE preparation before attending the face-to-face component.

Assessment

Candidates are assessed according to the current ALSG APLS course requirements.

Assessment may include:

• Continuous faculty observation
• Practical performance
• Structured clinical scenarios
• Application of the APLS approach
• Teamwork and communication
• Required knowledge assessments

Candidates must demonstrate a safe and systematic approach to the recognition, treatment and stabilisation of paediatric emergencies.

Booking or attendance does not automatically guarantee successful completion.

Certification

Candidates who successfully complete all required components of the course receive the relevant ALSG APLS certification.

The full APLS course is the initial provider programme. ALSG also offers a one-day APLS recertification course for eligible candidates who have previously completed the full APLS course and later require recertification.

Why Complete APLS?

APLS can be particularly valuable for clinicians who want to:

• Improve confidence managing critically ill children
• Develop a reliable approach to paediatric emergencies
• Strengthen paediatric resuscitation skills
• Improve trauma assessment
• Develop leadership during paediatric emergencies
• Improve team communication
• Prepare for work in Emergency Medicine or Paediatrics
• Strengthen their acute-care portfolio
• Maintain structured paediatric emergency knowledge
• Develop skills applicable to real clinical emergencies

Why Complete APLS at PLAB Guide Training Centre?

PLAB Guide Training Centre is now an approved APLS course centre in Manchester.

Candidates can benefit from:

• An approved ALSG APLS programme
• Experienced paediatric emergency and resuscitation faculty
• Practical simulation-based learning
• Modern resuscitation equipment
• Structured small-group teaching
• Realistic paediatric emergency scenarios
• A supportive professional learning environment
• Convenient Manchester location
• Free dedicated car parking
• Free on-road parking nearby
• Easy access by road and public transport

Our focus is to provide a well-organised learning environment where candidates can concentrate on developing the clinical judgement, technical skills and teamwork required during serious paediatric emergencies.

Important Course Preparation

APLS is an intensive advanced course.

Candidates should book sufficiently early to allow time to:

• Complete registration
• Access the ALSG VLE
• Work through the online learning
• Review the APLS manual
• Refresh paediatric resuscitation knowledge
• Complete any required pre-course assessments
• Prepare fully for the practical course

Candidates booking close to the course date must still complete all mandatory preparation before attendance.

Book Your APLS Course in Manchester

Develop a systematic approach to the recognition, treatment and stabilisation of critically ill and injured children with the Advanced Paediatric Life Support course from ALSG.

Book your APLS course at PLAB Guide Training Centre, Manchester, an approved APLS course centre, and complete the current blended programme consisting of the flexible online learning component followed by two days of intensive face-to-face paediatric emergency training.