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European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2010 ...

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J. Soar et al. / <strong>Resuscitation</strong> 81 (<strong>2010</strong>) 1434–1444 1439<br />

Course <strong>for</strong>mat<br />

The ILS course is delivered over one day and comprises lectures,<br />

hands-on skills teaching and cardiac arrest simulation teaching<br />

(CASTeach) using manikins. The programme includes several<br />

options that enable instructors to tailor the course to their candidate<br />

group. The ILS course is designed to be straight<strong>for</strong>ward to run.<br />

Most courses are conducted in hospitals with small groups of candidates<br />

(average 12 candidates). Course centres should try as far as<br />

possible to train candidates to use the equipment (e.g., defibrillator<br />

type) that is available locally.<br />

Course content<br />

The course covers those skills that are most likely to result in<br />

successful resuscitation: causes and prevention of cardiac arrest<br />

including use of the ABCDE approach, starting CPR, basic airway<br />

skills and defibrillation (AED or manual). The course includes an<br />

optional session on issues relevant to the candidate group (e.g.,<br />

anaphylaxis, equipment checks). Once all the skills have been covered<br />

there is a cardiac arrest demonstration by the instructors<br />

that outlines the first responder role to the candidates. This is<br />

followed by the CASTeach station where candidates practice. ILS<br />

candidates are not usually expected to undertake the role of team<br />

leader. Candidates should be able to start a resuscitation attempt<br />

and continue until more experienced help arrives. When appropriate,<br />

the instructor takes over as resuscitation team leader. This<br />

is not always necessary because in some simulations resuscitation<br />

may be successful be<strong>for</strong>e more experienced help arrives. Standardised<br />

simulations are used that can be adapted to the workplace and<br />

clinical role of the candidate.<br />

Assessment<br />

Candidates are assessed continuously and must show their competence<br />

throughout the ILS course. There are no <strong>for</strong>mal testing<br />

stations at the end of the course. Candidates are sent assessment<br />

<strong>for</strong>ms with the pre-course materials. The <strong>for</strong>ms indicate clearly how<br />

their per<strong>for</strong>mance will be measured against pre-determined criteria.<br />

Assessment on the ILS course enables the candidate to see<br />

what is expected, and frame their learning around achievement<br />

of these outcomes. The following practical skills are assessed on<br />

the ILS course: airway management, CPR and defibrillation. With a<br />

supportive approach, most candidates achieve the course learning<br />

outcomes.<br />

The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Course<br />

The target candidates <strong>for</strong> this course are doctors and senior<br />

nurses working in acute areas of the hospital and those who may be<br />

resuscitation team leaders and members. 212,213 The course is also<br />

suitable <strong>for</strong> senior paramedics and some hospital technicians. The<br />

ILS course is more suitable <strong>for</strong> first responder nurses, doctors who<br />

rarely encounter cardiac arrest in their practice, and emergency<br />

medical technicians.<br />

Each instructor acts as a mentor <strong>for</strong> a small group of candidates.<br />

The course normally lasts <strong>for</strong> 2 or 2.5 days.<br />

Course <strong>for</strong>mat<br />

The course <strong>for</strong>mat has very few <strong>for</strong>mal lectures and teaching<br />

concentrates on hands-on skills, clinically-based simulations in<br />

small groups with emphasis on the team leader approach, and<br />

interactive group discussions. A <strong>for</strong>mal mentor/mentee session is<br />

included to enable candidates to give and receive feedback.<br />

Course content<br />

The course content is based on the current ERC <strong>Guidelines</strong> <strong>for</strong><br />

<strong>Resuscitation</strong>. Candidates are expected to have studied the ALS<br />

course materials carefully be<strong>for</strong>e the course.<br />

The course aims to train candidates to highlight the causes of<br />

cardiac arrest and identify sick patients in danger of deterioration<br />

and to manage cardiac arrest and the immediate peri-arrest problems<br />

encountered in and around the first hour or so of the event.<br />

It is not a course in advanced intensive care or cardiology. Competence<br />

in basic life support is expected be<strong>for</strong>e the candidate enrols<br />

<strong>for</strong> the course.<br />

Emphasis is placed on the techniques of safe defibrillation and<br />

ECG interpretation, the management of the airway and ventilation,<br />

the management of peri-arrest rhythms, simple acid-base<br />

balance, and of special circumstances relating to cardiac arrest.<br />

Post-resuscitation care, ethical aspects related to resuscitation and<br />

care of the bereaved are included in the course.<br />

Assessment and testing<br />

Each candidate is assessed continuously during the course and<br />

reviewed at the end of each day at a faculty meeting. Feedback<br />

is given as required. Candidates are expected to be able to use<br />

the ABCDE approach to assess and treat the sick patient, recognise<br />

cardiac arrest, provide good quality CPR and safe defibrillation<br />

throughout the course. There is a cardiac arrest simulation testing<br />

(CASTest) towards the end of the course. This tests the participant’s<br />

applied knowledge and skills during a simulated cardiac arrest.<br />

The reliability and measurement properties of the CASTest have<br />

been reported. 169,214,215 A multiple choice question (MCQ) paper<br />

taken at the end of the course tests core knowledge. Candidates are<br />

required to achieve 75% to pass this test. The measurement properties<br />

of the multiple choice papers have been assessed from over<br />

8000 candidates and found to have high internal consistency and<br />

discrimination properties (Data from <strong>Resuscitation</strong> <strong>Council</strong> (UK)<br />

and Dr Carl Gwinnutt).<br />

The <strong>European</strong> Paediatric Life Support (EPLS) Course<br />

The EPLS course is designed <strong>for</strong> healthcare workers who are<br />

involved in the resuscitation of a newborn, an infant or a child<br />

whether in or out-of-hospital. The course aims at providing caregivers<br />

with knowledge and skills <strong>for</strong> the management of the<br />

critically ill child during the first hour of illness and to prevent<br />

progression of diseases to cardiac arrest.<br />

EPLS is not a course in neonatal or paediatric intensive care<br />

aimed <strong>for</strong> advanced providers.<br />

Competence in paediatric basic life support is a prerequisite<br />

although refresher teaching in basic life support and relief of <strong>for</strong>eign<br />

body airway obstruction is included. The EPLS course is suitable<br />

<strong>for</strong> doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics etc<br />

who have a duty to respond to sick newborns, infants and children<br />

in their practice. 216,217<br />

Experience in paediatrics is necessary to keep simulations realistic<br />

and answer to candidates’ questions so a minimum of 50% of<br />

the faculty must have regular experience in neonatal or paediatric<br />

practice. The course lasts <strong>for</strong> 2–2.5 days.<br />

Course <strong>for</strong>mat<br />

The course <strong>for</strong>mat has few <strong>for</strong>mal lectures. Teaching of knowledge<br />

and skills is delivered in small groups using clinically<br />

based simulations (e.g., cardiac arrest, cardiac and respiratory failure,<br />

delivery room simulations). The emphasis is on assessment

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