In high-stakes medical emergencies, the rapid and skilled application of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is paramount to improving patient outcomes during cardiac arrest, stroke, myocardial infarction, and other cardiovascular crises. ACLS training equips healthcare professionals with the critical knowledge and sophisticated clinical skills necessary to assess, intervene, and manage these life-threatening events effectively, moving beyond basic life support to advanced pharmacological interventions, airway management, rhythm interpretation, and team dynamics. The ability to promptly recognize deteriorating conditions, initiate appropriate resuscitation protocols, and lead a high-performing resuscitation team can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality, making ACLS a cornerstone of emergency medical care. This specialized training ensures that medical teams are prepared to provide coordinated, evidence-based care in time-sensitive situations, maximizing the chances of patient survival and neurological recovery. Without rigorously maintaining and updating Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) competencies, healthcare providers risk suboptimal patient care, diminished survival rates in critical scenarios, and a compromised ability to deliver the highest standard of emergency cardiovascular intervention, underscoring the vital need for specialized expertise in this critical domain.

Duration: 10 Days

Target Audience

• Physicians (Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Critical Care)
• Nurses (Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Care Unit)
• Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians
• Clinical Officers and Medical Assistants involved in emergency care
• Respiratory Therapists
• Allied Health Professionals involved in resuscitation efforts
• Medical Students and Residents
• Physician Assistants
• Dentists
• Anyone requiring ACLS certification for their professional role

Objectives

• Understand the principles of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and its integration into ACLS.
• Learn to interpret common cardiac arrhythmias and apply appropriate management algorithms.
• Acquire skills in advanced airway management techniques and ventilation.
• Comprehend techniques for pharmacological interventions during cardiac arrest and post-cardiac arrest care.
• Explore strategies for managing acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke emergencies.
• Understand the importance of effective team dynamics and communication during resuscitation.
• Gain insights into post-cardiac arrest care and optimizing patient recovery.
• Develop a practical understanding of ethical considerations in resuscitation efforts.
• Master the ACLS algorithms for various cardiovascular emergencies.
• Acquire skills in defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion, and transcutaneous pacing.
• Learn to assess and manage tachycardias and bradycardias with pulses.
• Comprehend the system of care for ACS and stroke.
• Explore strategies for identifying and managing reversible causes of cardiac arrest.
• Understand the importance of continuous quality improvement in resuscitation.
• Develop the ability to lead and participate effectively in a resuscitation team.

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

• Review of Basic Life Support (BLS) principles and high-quality CPR.
• Chain of Survival for adult in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
• Importance of early defibrillation and rapid response.
• Ethical considerations and decision-making in resuscitation.
• Introduction to the ACLS algorithms.

Module 2: Airway Management and Ventilation

• Basic airway maneuvers: head-tilt chin-lift, jaw thrust.
• Use of bag-mask ventilation and proper technique.
• Advanced airway devices: laryngeal mask airway (LMA), endotracheal intubation (ETI).
• Confirmation of advanced airway placement.
• Capnography: principles and interpretation for ventilation and CPR quality.

Module 3: Pharmacology for Resuscitation

• Review of common emergency medications: epinephrine, atropine, amiodarone, lidocaine.
• Dosing, routes of administration, and indications for ACLS drugs.
• Understanding vasopressors, antiarrhythmics, and fibrinolytic agents.
• Safe medication administration practices in emergencies.
• Role of intravenous access and intraosseous access.

Module 4: ECG Rhythm Recognition

• Normal sinus rhythm and common bradyarrhythmias (sinus bradycardia, AV blocks).
• Common tachyarrhythmias (sinus tachycardia, SVT, atrial fibrillation, flutter).
• Ventricular rhythms: V-tach, V-fib, asystole.
• Pacemaker rhythms and artifact recognition.
• Interpreting ECG changes in acute coronary syndromes.

Module 5: Management of Cardiac Arrest: Pulseless Arrest Algorithm

• Systematic approach to pulseless arrest.
• High-quality CPR and ventilation during cardiac arrest.
• Defibrillation: indications, energy levels, safety.
• Role of epinephrine and amiodarone in pulseless ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation.
• Managing asystole and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).

Module 6: Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

• Goals of post-cardiac arrest care.
• Targeted Temperature Management (TTM): indications and methods.
• Optimizing hemodynamics and ventilation.
• Neurological prognostication and management.
• Transition of care and family support.

Module 7: Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS)

• Recognition of ACS symptoms and initial assessment.
• ECG interpretation in myocardial infarction (STEMI vs. NSTEMI).
• Initial management of ACS: oxygen, aspirin, nitrates, morphine.
• Role of reperfusion therapy: PCI vs. fibrinolysis.
• Post-ACS care and prevention of complications.

Module 8: Stroke Management

• Recognition of stroke symptoms: time is brain.
• Rapid assessment using stroke scales (e.g., Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale).
• Differentiating ischemic vs. hemorrhagic stroke.
• Initial management of acute stroke: airway, breathing, circulation, glucose.
• Role of thrombolytic therapy (tPA) and endovascular thrombectomy.

Module 9: Bradycardia Algorithm

• Recognition of symptomatic bradycardia.
• Assessing for signs of instability.
• Management options: atropine, transcutaneous pacing (TCP), dopamine, epinephrine.
• Indications and setup for TCP.
• Considering underlying causes of bradycardia.

Module 10: Tachycardia Algorithm with Pulse (Stable and Unstable)

• Recognition of stable and unstable tachycardias.
• Assessing for signs of instability.
• Management of unstable tachycardia: synchronized cardioversion.
• Management of stable tachycardia: vagal maneuvers, adenosine, antiarrhythmics.
• Differentiating narrow complex vs. wide complex tachycardias.

Module 11: Team Dynamics and Effective Communication

• Importance of clear roles and responsibilities in a resuscitation team.
• Closed-loop communication and clear messaging.
• Leadership skills during a code: delegation, managing stress, fostering psychological safety.
• Debriefing and continuous quality improvement.
• Addressing conflict and challenges within the team.

Module 12: Special Resuscitation Situations

• Cardiac arrest in pregnancy.
• Cardiac arrest in opioid overdose.
• Hypothermia and hyperthermia.
• Electrocution and drowning.
• Toxins and poisoning-related cardiac arrest.

Module 13: Reversible Causes of Cardiac Arrest (Hs and Ts)

• Hypoxia, Hypovolemia, Hypothermia, Hyper-/Hypokalemia, Hydrogen ion (acidosis).
• Toxins, Tamponade (cardiac), Tension pneumothorax, Thrombosis (coronary/pulmonary).
• Systematic approach to identifying and managing these causes.
• Diagnostic clues and rapid interventions for each cause.
• Importance of a differential diagnosis in cardiac arrest.

Module 14: Megacode Practice and Simulation

• Integration of all ACLS knowledge and skills in realistic scenarios.
• Practicing team leadership and communication.
• Hands-on application of algorithms, pharmacology, and airway management.
• Debriefing and performance feedback.
• Developing critical thinking and rapid decision-making skills.

Module 15: ACLS Certification and Continuous Quality Improvement

• Review of key concepts and algorithms for certification.
• Practical skill stations and written examination preparation.
• Importance of ongoing training, practice, and skill refreshment.
• Continuous quality improvement (CQI) in emergency care.
• Utilizing data to enhance resuscitation outcomes and system performance.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.