Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course

Course by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

Course Description: Our Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course by Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada course is a video-based, instructor-led, advanced course that builds on the foundation of basic life support skills. Through a combination of video-based instruction and hands-on practice, ACLS emphasizes the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR and stresses the importance of team dynamics and effective communication. In addition to covering the recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, ACLS also focuses on immediate post-cardiac arrest care, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. 

By taking healthcare provider training to the next level, this ACLS program helps to ensure that providers are fully prepared to respond to complex and challenging emergency situations. With a focus on high-performance team dynamics, effective communication, and systems of care, ACLS is an essential course for any healthcare professional looking to enhance their resuscitation skills and provide the highest quality of care to their patients.

Intended Audience: The Heart and Stroke Foundation's ACLS course is specifically tailored for healthcare professionals who are responsible for managing cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units such as physicians, nurses, and paramedics, as well as others who need an ACLS course completion card for job or other requirements. 

Successful completion of the course will also provide participants with an ACLS course completion card. By completing this ACLS course, these professionals will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively respond to complex emergencies and improve patient outcomes. 

The Heart and Stroke Foundation's ACLS course is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and respected training programs available for healthcare providers seeking to enhance their resuscitation skills.

Course Prerequisites:

• Current Heart & Stroke BLS Provider certification
• ACLS pre-course self-assessment certificate (passing score = 70%). The link for the pre-course self-assessment will be sent to you after the course registration.

The following competencies are expected of students entering a ACLS Provider course:

• Performing high-quality BLS skills using the most recent Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC
• Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)- Be able to identify—on a monitor and paper tracing—rhythms associated with bradycardia, tachycardia with adequate perfusion, tachycardia with poor perfusion, and pulseless arrest. These rhythms include but are not limited to:
  • Normal sinus rhythm
  • Sinus bradycardia
  • Type I second-degree AV block
  • Type II second-degree AV block
  • Third-degree AV block
  • Sinus tachycardia
  • Supraventricular tachycardias
  • Ventricular tachycardia
  • Asystole
  • Ventricular fibrillation
  • Organized rhythm without a pulse
• Understanding ACLS drugs- have a basic understanding of the essential drugs used in:
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Bradycardia
  • Tachycardia with adequate perfusion
  • Tachycardia with poor perfusion
  • Immediate post–cardiac arrest care
• A current Heart and Stroke Foundation BLS course completion card
• Complete a mandatory Pre-course Self-Assessment.

Course Overview:
Course content:
The ACLS Provider Course emphasizes few major concepts:

• The crucial importance of high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to patient survival
• The integration of effective basic life support (BLS) with ACLS interventions
• The importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course is designed to give students the opportunity to practice and demonstrate proficiency in the following skills used in resuscitation:
• Systematic approach
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Defibrillation
• Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• Team dynamics

Students must pass a written exam and skills test in order to qualify for a ACLS Provider Course Completion Card.

Course Duration 

14 hours (2 days)

Certification

2-year certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Course Materials

Books and materials are required on our courses by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It is the participant’s responsibility to get the materials and it is not included in the course price.

Course textbooks and materials are available directly from First Aid Plus, use the following link to buy ACLS course textbooks and materials or they can be purchased from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, please click on the link below, sign in, and then click the button that says SHOP

https://cpr.heartandstroke.ca/s/?language=en_US

Please ensure you order the following required student materials:

• 2020 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Manual – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE5610)
• 2020 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Provider – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE0130)
• ACLS Reference Cards – (Heart and Stroke Product Code: RE5670) It is already included in the Provider Manual but also sold separately if an extra one is needed.

It is advised that you read the textbook, in its entirety, prior to the course. 

We offer comprehensive ACLS courses in multiple locations, including Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal, Pembroke, Arnprior, Kemptville, and Smith Falls. Our certified instructors provide hands-on training to ensure you are prepared to handle emergency situations. 

Contact us to inquire about course availability or to get answers to any questions you may have. Our courses cover a range of topics, from basic life support to advanced resuscitation techniques. We are committed to providing high-quality education to healthcare providers and anyone interested in improving their lifesaving skills.