Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is an advanced, instructor-led classroom course that highlights the importance of team management of a cardiac arrest, team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. Specific skills in airway management and related pharmacology are also featured. Skills are taught through discussion and group learning, while testing stations offer case-based scenarios using simulators.

ACLS Course Content

• Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2020 Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC)
• Basic life-support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device and an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest using a manual defibrillator and equipment commonly found on a crash cart
• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
• Airway management
• Related pharmacology
• Management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke
• Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
• Effective resuscitation team dynamics

Skills are taught in group sessions, as well as in small-group learning-and-testing stations, where case-based scenarios are presented.