Prehospital Care

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (HCP)

This Heart and Stroke Foundation course (CEBLS 100) is designed to teach healthcare professionals lifesaving skills in and out of hospitals, and how to:

• Recognize life threatening emergencies
• Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Use an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Safely relieve choking
• Learn about key changes in basic life support
• Learn about the Chain of Survival
• Perform one-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, children and infants
• Perform two-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, children and infants

Maintain your status by successfully completing the course each year.

Course length

This course is four to five hours long.

Textbook

You will need the Heart and Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers Student Manual.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Provider Course

This Heart and Stroke Foundation course (CEACLS 100) introduces advanced healthcare professionals to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for acute cardiac patients through case studies. The course is designed for those who require learning in:

• Advanced acute cardiac care
• Resuscitation

Maintain your status by successfully completing your re-certification every two years.

Course length

This course is two days (14 hours) long.

Admission requirements

• Successfully complete the Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers within one year before taking this course
• Be familiar with rhythm interpretation and basic resuscitation pharmacology

Textbooks

• Heart and Stroke Foundation Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Manual
• Heart and Stroke Foundation 2015 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Renewal Course

This course (CEACLS 101) helps healthcare professionals renew their ACLS Provider Course with the latest training updates in knowledge and skills.

Course length

This course is one day (seven hours) long.

Admission requirements

Successfully complete the Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider Course within the past two years.

Textbooks

• Heart and Stroke Foundation Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Manual
• Heart and Stroke Foundation 2015 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers

International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Provider Course

This course (CEITLS 100) is designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilize trauma patients. It provides skills and training needed for quick assessment, resuscitation, stabilization and transportation of trauma patients.

You will take part in hands-on stations, such as:

• Quick trauma patient assessment and management
• Basic airway management
• Spinal motion restriction - rapid extraction, short back board, helmet management, log roll and long back board/scoop stretcher usage
• Extremity immobilization and traction splint application

Course Length

This course is two days (16 hours) long.

Admission requirements

You must be currently registered as a healthcare provider, including:

• First responder
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• Other health professional with qualifications for entry

Textbook

You will need the International Trauma Life Support for Emergency Care Providers, 8th Edition.

International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Renewal Course

This is a re-certification course (CEITLS 101) designed for International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) Basic Providers. Certification lasts for three years before expiry. Maintain your status by successfully completing your re-certification every three years.

Course length

This course is eight hours long.

Admission requirements

You need your current ITLS Basic Provider certification card.

Pediatric Life Support (PALS) Provider Course

This course (CEPALS 100) is designed for healthcare professionals who handle advanced life support in pediatric emergencies and for healthcare students looking for pediatric life support training credentials.

The course helps you develop the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and treat critically ill infants and children. We use a team approach when teaching emergency management of pediatric patients who are approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest. The program covers early patient stabilization to transporting patients in or out of the hospital.

In this course, you will learn:

• Recognition and treatment of infants and children at risk for cardiopulmonary arrest
• Systematic approach to pediatric assessment
• Respiratory management
• One-person and two-person CPR and AED skills for infants and children
• Defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion
• Intraosseous access and fluid bolus administration
• Resuscitation team dynamics

You must pass a written exam and skills test to get your Pediatric Life Support Provider Course Completion card.

Course length

This course is two days (14 hours) long.

Admission requirements

You will need your current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider card.

Textbooks

• Heart & Stroke Foundation Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Manual
• Heart & Stroke Foundation Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Provider

Pediatric Life Support (PALS) Renewal Course

This is a re-certification course for healthcare professionals who need to update skills and knowledge needed for advanced resuscitation in infants and children.

Admission requirements

• Current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider card
• Completed PALS certification or re-certification within the last two years

Textbooks

• Heart & Stroke Foundation Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Manual
• Heart & Stroke Foundation Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Provider

Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

This course (CENRP 100) introduces the concepts and skills of neonatal resuscitation (NRP). The Canadian Paediatric Society operates the program. Course content is evidence-based and delivered in English and French across Canada. Completing this course does not necessarily mean you are ready to perform neonatal resuscitation.

Maintain your status by attending and completing an NRP course within two years of your previous status.

Course length

This course is one day (seven hours) long.

Textbook

You will need the Neonatal Resuscitation Textbook, 7th Edition.

Alberta Paramedicine Driver Operator Course

Learn more about the Alberta Paramedicine Driver Operator Course.

Geriatric Medical Service (GEMS) Course

The Geriatric Emergency Medical Service (GEMS) course trains emergency and mobile healthcare professionals to deliver the best care to geriatric patients. This program addresses geriatric-specific topics and competency in the National Emergency Medical Service Education Standards.

This course will boost your competence, confidence and compassion while responding to geriatric patients in need.

Course length

This course is one day (eight hours) long.

Admission requirements

You will need your current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider card.

Textbook

You will need the Geriatric Education for Emergency Medical Services (GEMS), 2nd Edition.

Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP)

The Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP) program provides complete medical information for the emergency care of infants and children. PEPP teaches prehospital professionals how to better evaluate and manage ill or injured children.

PEPP is an innovative and highly visual course that features case studies, video, hands-on skill stations and small group scenarios.

Two courses are available:

PEPP Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Course

This 9.5-hour classroom course combines online learning and hands-on practice. You will learn part of the course through self-directed online modules. After completing them, you will attend a short, on-site course for the hands-on component, instructor interaction and a final exam. The course is geared toward emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians.

Admission requirements

You will need your current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider card.

Textbook

You will need the Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP), 3rd Edition.

PEPP Advanced Life Support (ALS) Provider Course

This 17-hour classroom course combines online learning and hands-on practice. You will learn part of the course through self-directed online modules. After completing them, you will attend a one-day on-site course for the hands-on component, instructor interaction and a final exam. The course is geared toward paramedics.

Admission requirements

• Current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider card
• Successfully completed a PEPP certification or re-certification within the past two years

Textbook

You will need the Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP), 3rd Edition.

By successfully completing a PEPP course, you will receive a PEPP course completion certificate, which is valid for two years.

Standard First Aid CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Level C

In this course, you will learn patient care skills to protect and support suddenly ill or injured people until emergency medical services arrive. We cover first aid skills that help in the control of bleeding, shock management, stabilizing fractures and dislocations. The course is intended for the general public.

The course certification is valid for three years, however we recommend annual CPR renewal since CPR certification is registered with the Heart & Stroke Foundation for one year.

Course length

This course is 16 hours long.

Textbook

You will need the Heart & Stroke First Aid, Reference Manual.