The Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) course from the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG) teaches a structured approach to the seriously ill or injured child. If you are booking an APLS course in Manchester, this guide explains how the course runs at PLAB Guide Training Centre in Levenshulme and how to prepare.
We are an ALSG Approved Centre and teach the APLS 7th edition.
Who the APLS course is for
APLS is for clinicians who look after acutely unwell children. Typical candidates include emergency medicine doctors, paediatricians, anaesthetists, intensive care staff, doctors in training and advanced nurse practitioners.
Am I eligible?
ALSG sets the eligibility rules. In summary, from ALSG's eligibility page:
- The course is for people from a medical, nursing, ECP, ACP, ODP or RTO background, where APLS is relevant to their work and they currently work in a relevant role.
- There is no minimum grade for doctors.
- ALSG recommends that nurses are senior staff nurses (band 6) or above. Experienced band 5 nurses can attend but would benefit from a basic paediatric life support course first.
- Physician associates and critical care practitioners in relevant roles are also eligible. Other health professionals can apply to ALSG for permission.
- ALSG strongly recommends basic paediatric life support training first, such as PLS or PILS, because APLS builds on those skills.
If you are unsure, check ALSG's page or contact us before you book.
How the APLS course runs
Before the course: online learning
You start with about a day of online learning on ALSG's virtual learning environment (VLE). You also receive the APLS 7th edition manual. Give yourself time to work through both before the face-to-face days, because the practical sessions build on them.
Two face-to-face days
The two days at our centre combine short lectures, skills sessions and clinical simulations, with feedback from experienced instructors. ALSG's course content covers:
- assessing and managing the seriously ill child
- a structured approach to the seriously injured child
- managing cardiac arrest
- communication, leadership and teamwork in an emergency
What you take away
- an ALSG APLS certificate, valid for four years
- 10 CPD points (RCPCH)
- the APLS 7th edition manual
The course fee is £750, as shown on our course page when this post was written. The booking page always shows the current fee.
How to prepare
- Complete the online learning before day one.
- Read the manual sections on the structured approach and the cardiac arrest algorithms.
- Wear comfortable clothes. You will be kneeling and moving during scenarios.
- Use the free on-site parking at our Levenshulme centre.
APLS, EPALS or PILS?
If you need a paediatric course but are unsure which, compare APLS with the Resuscitation Council UK courses we run:
- European Paediatric Advanced Life Support (EPALS): an RCUK advanced paediatric course with e-learning and two face-to-face days.
- Paediatric Immediate Life Support (PILS): an RCUK immediate-level course for staff who may need to start resuscitation in a child.
- Newborn Life Support (NLS): for staff who care for babies at birth.
Check with your employer or training programme which course they require.
Upcoming APLS course dates in Manchester
Choosing a date takes you straight to booking with that date selected.
Full details are on the APLS course page.