The IAP – PALS Group

National Convener: Dr Arif Ahmed Joint National Convener: Dr. M. Jayashree

mashamed@yahoo.com 7799872930 mjshree@hotmail.com 09815594343

Guidelines for holding an IAP-PALS Provider Course: Jan 2012

All the courses will be conducted under the auspices of IAP
This must be clearly mentioned in all communications and acknowledged at the venue on the banners

TIMELINE / checklist for the course coordinator

1. Fourteen to twelve weeks in advance Planning for course (fixing the date / venue with Joint Zonal
coordinator)
2. Twelve to ten weeks in advance Announcing (advertising) and asking for registrations
3. Eight to six weeks in advance Request for books and material from IAP
4. Five to four weeks in advance: Completion of registrations and sending the books / plan /
communication to delegates
5. Four weeks before the course Inviting and confirming participation of faculty
6. Three to two weeks before the course: Finalizing faculty travel plans/ faculty stay /mannequins /
stationery as well as the certificates with zonal coordinator
7. Few days before the course: Stationery printing
8. A day before the course: Audio-visual and hall arrangements, faculty stay arrangements
9. Night before the course: Receiving out of town faculty as per local plans; Dinner as may be needed.
10. At the beginning of the course: Welcome / attendance of the delegates and distribution of badges,
collection of signed declaration forms and self- assessment test reports from the delegates

Details
1. The course coordinator: Any organization / institution or City branch of the IAP that desires to
hold a PALS Course must identify a local pediatrician of sufficient maturity to act as the Course
coordinator. The course coordinator shall work in close association with the PALS zonal co-coordinator.
He / She shall be responsible for meeting the requirements for successful course conduction, including
arrangements at the venue, registration of the participants, and travel and accommodation
requirements of the faculty and if needed for the participants too. Further details of these necessities
are mentioned where ever necessary in the following text. In case of any clarifications, zonal coordinator
should be contacted.
2. The dates: the two day course is usually held on a week end. The dates are decided in consultation
with IAP PALS Convener / Zonal Coordinator at least twelve to fourteen weeks in advance. After
finalizing the dates, the registrations are announced open with a mention of limited seats and the last
date to register.
3. The registrations Number of participants per course is limited to a maximum of 36. The registration
fee fixed by the IAP for the Course is Rs.2500/- to maximum of Rs 3000/- to meet the financial
requirements of the course. Registration must be completed at least 6-8 weeks in advance. The amount
may be finalized in concurrence with the zonal coordinator depending on the actual expenditures
expected (e.g. out of town faculty, venue expenses etc.)
 No new registrants should be entertained after the specified last date. Any last minute
cancellation would result in forfeiture of the registration fee.
The course coordinator should forward a list of the registered participants including their
designation, institution, mailing address, e mail ids and contact numbers in an excel spread sheet
to the Course Director as well as the zonal coordinator.
4. The study material
Being a certification course, the participants are required to go through the material thoroughly prior to
taking the course. It shall be the responsibility of the course coordinator to procure the study material
well in advance and to be distributed to the delegates at least four weeks prior to the course from the
CIAP. The course coordinator should fill up the requisition form appended at the end of this document to
procure the course material. The study material is in the form of a PALS Provider Manual and BLS
Student Manual with card.
5. The Venue: The program requires three / four work stations where simultaneous audios do not
disturb each other as follows:
1. One main hall to seat 50 people. This should have the main audio visual facility/ LCD projector /
microphone / pointer. This should also have two tables with table covers or six mattresses with
sheets for the demonstration of basic life support. It may be helpful to have a foot rest with each
table for individuals to stand upon if needed to reach the mannequin. Gauge pieces (two for
each candidate) for mannequin sanitation are needed if face shields are unavailable.
2. Three additional rooms to seat 12-15 people at least. In addition, there should be one to two
office tables with one laptop / desktop facility with audio in each room. One of these rooms
should have additional power supply source / extension cord for the Defibrillator cum Monitor.
3. Not necessary but desirable: all the rooms on same floor
4. Morning tea, lunch and evening tea should be served hygienically in a neat and clean designated
area separate from the main hall. Mineral water should be available.
5. Adequate signage should be put to guide the out of town delegates from the main gate itself.

No trade-stalls are allowed inside the hall.

6. The faculty: The faculty is constituted by the zonal coordinator. Usually there are 6 instructors for 36
candidates. Some zones may have a dedicated BLS instructor as the seventh faculty. One faculty member
may be invited from a neighboring zone. The senior most PALS Instructor is entrusted with the
responsibility of Course-Director. The Zonal Coordinator and Course-director will be responsible for
course contents, scheduling, faculty assignment and overall conduct of the course.

The course coordinator has to send an individual invitation to each of the faculty member.

The course coordinator should make the following arrangements for the faculty:
a. Faculty travel, lodging and boarding: The invited faculty members should be reimbursed train
travel (CC / AC II). In exceptional cases where it is not possible to get the faculty from nearby
distance or travel is longer than overnight journey then air travel (apex fare or similar) shall be
reimbursed by the course organizers.
b. Stay of the course faculty: The out of town faculty should be provided accommodation at a clean
and comfortable facility for two nights beginning a night before the course. This should be done
after communicating with the concerned faculty members. Local transport arrangements for
travel to and from airport / railway station and venue of the course should be looked into. Only
mineral water should be served including at the venue.

7. The equipment requirements: The course coordinator should arrange the following equipment
locally:
a. Defibrillator with cardiac monitor
b. Pediatric and Neonatal Laryngoscopes with curved and straight blades for Intubation practice.
c. Spare pencil batteries
d. Oxygen hood.
 e. Name badges for all the candidates and faculty with names written in bold and large fonts,
visible from a distance. It is desirable to have the location from which the individual belongs also
mentioned on the badge.
f. Adequate Copies of answer sheets and feedback forms to be procured from the zonal
coordinator
g. Backup plan for power failure / equipment failure / photocopying
h. Ensure to get the following materials from PALS zonal coordinator:-
i. 2-Sets of Infant and adult manikins each, Intubation manikin, airway adjuncts, rhythm
simulator, IO demonstration sets,
ii. Face shields as barrier devices, if available; otherwise gauze pieces as mentioned above.
iii. Course DVD / USB
iv. Question papers and Certificates
8. The communications: communication is an important aspect of ensuring smooth conduct of the
course.
a. Communication to the delegates along with the study material should also include:
i. A cover note to all the delegates detailing the course requirements. A desired format is
attached at the end of this document and may be reproduced as such (appendix II).
ii. The copy of program received from the Zonal Coordinator
b. Communication to the instructors: The course coordinator should extend a formal invitation to
the individual members of the faculty so as to formally enable them to take leave from their
respective commitments. He / she shall mention the boarding, lodging and travel details of the
faculty as may be needed. The IAP PALS zonal coordinator will help the course coordinator to get
the required addresses of the faculty.
9. The course completion
a. The certification will be by the IAP through the Course-Director only. No local certificates should
be printed
b. Reporting The course coordinator must send report of the course signed by course director on
specific format to PALS zonal coordinator.
c. The accounts should be submitted to the local IAP branch by the course coordinator.

THE INSTRUCTOR COURSE:

The requirements to conduct the instructor course are essentially the same as provider course with
following in mind:
(i) Course Faculty: A minimum of 6 Senior PALS instructors (more than 5 year experience) including a
course-director is needed to run a course. The National convener (present or past) as well as Zonal
coordinator / joint Zonal coordinator should always be the part of the faculty for this course.
(ii) It will be one day course. Only one hall is required.
(iii) The Instructor book and DVD of IAP PALS module 2011 should be given to all successful
delegates upon completion of course.
Appendix I

Requisition for PALS provider course study material

Please email this request to all of the following
secgeniap1213@hotmail.com , centraloffice@iapindia.org , mashamed@yahoo.com
internationalpublication39@yahoo.com, drtuteja@yahoo.com , vrpuri2003@yahoo.co.in

To
The Secretary General,
Indian Academy of Pediatrics,
Kailas Darshan, Kennedy Bridge, Nana Chowk
Mumbai 400007 Ph.: 022-28341073, 022-32913283,

Date:

Dear Sir,

A PALS provider course has been planned at

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………..on ………………………………………………………….

Dr …………………………………………………………………………………………………shall be the course coordinator.

Please find enclosed a draft of value Rs 39990/- in favor of “Indian Academy of Pediatrics” payable at
Mumbai. (Number…………………………….., dated………………………………., drawn on
……………………………………………………………………………………..Bank,

Please arrange to send me a set of PALS provider course study material for 36 delegates at the following
address:

A scanned copy of the draft is attached for your perusal

With regards,

Course coordinator
Address……………
Mobile number…………………….
APPENDIX II
A copy of the following part to be sent to each candidate by the course coordinator:

The IAP – PALS Group

National Convener: Dr Arif Ahmed Joint National Convener: Dr. M. Jayashree
mashamed@yahoo.com 7799872930 mjshree@hotmail.com 09815594343

Letter to Delegates

(Date)

Dear PALS Provider Course Student:

Welcome to the PALS Provider Course at (venue) …………………………………………………...

On (date)…………………………………………………………..at (time)……………………...

Please plan to be on time because it will be difficult for late students to catch up once we start. Students
are expected to attend and participate in the entire course.

What We Sent You

Enclosed are the agenda/program and your copy of the PALS Provider Manual and BLS Student manual

How to Get Ready

The PALS Provider Course is designed to teach you the lifesaving skills required to be both a team
member and a team leader in either an in-hospital or an out-of-hospital setting. Because the PALS Provider
Course covers extensive material in a short time, you will need to prepare for the course beforehand.

Precourse Requirements

You should prepare for the course as follows:

1. Precourse Preparation Checklist: Complete the precourse checklist that came with your PALS
Provider Manual. Bring the checklist with you to the course.
2. BLS competency: Be prepared to pass the 1- and 2-Rescuer Child BLS with AED and 1- and 2-
Rescuer Infant BLS Skills Tests. The resuscitation scenarios require that your BLS skills and
knowledge are current. Review and understand all 2010 BLS guidelines, especially as they relate to
pediatric patients. You may find this information in the BLS for Healthcare Providers Student Manual
or in other publications based on the 2010 AHA Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and
Emergency Cardiovascular Care (see www.heart.org/cpr).
3. Precourse Self-Assessment (required): Complete the Precourse Self-Assessment on the Student
Website and print your score; bring the printout of your score with you to the PALS Course. This test
consists of 3 sections: ECG rhythm identification, pharmacology, and practical application. Use this
assessment to identify areas where you need to increase your knowledge.
4. PALS algorithms and flowcharts: Be familiar with the PALS algorithms and flowcharts so that you
can apply them to clinical scenarios. Note that the PALS Course does not present the details of
each algorithm.
5. Supplement your knowledge: Review and understand the information in the PALS Provider Manual
and on the Student Website. Pay particular attention to the systematic approach to pediatric
assessment, the evaluate-identify-intervene model, and the management of respiratory and
circulatory abnormalities.
6. Course agenda: Review the course agenda and note course activities where you might need to
supplement your knowledge before attending the course.
What This Course Does Not Cover

The PALS Provider Course does not teach ECG rhythm identification, PALS pharmacology, or algorithms.
If you do not review CPR and if you do not learn and understand the ECG and pharmacology
information in the Precourse Self-Assessment, it is unlikely that you can successfully complete the
PALS Provider Course. You will not be taught how to read or interpret ECG rhythm strips in the course,
nor will you be taught details about PALS pharmacology. You must know this in advance.

It is essential that you bring your PALS Provider Manual to class; you will need it during each
lesson in the course.

You may refer to the 2010 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers
(optional), and you may bring it to the course to use as a reference during some of the stations in the
course.

What to Wear

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing to class. You will be practicing skills that require you to work on
your hands and knees, and the course requires bending, standing, and lifting. If you have any physical
conditions that might prevent you from engaging in these activities, please tell an instructor. The instructor
may be able to adjust the equipment if you have back, knee, or hip problems.

Please switch off your mobiles while in the class.

Course completion criteria

• Be in attendance at all lectures and stations
• Pass 1- and 2- Rescuer Child BLS with AED and 1- and 2- Rescuer Infant BLS Skills test
• Actively participate in, practice and complete all learning stations
• Complete closed book written exam with a minimum score of 84%
• Pass 2 PALS core case scenarios (1 – cardiac and 1-respiratory or shock) as a team leader
providing appropriate medical treatment and demonstrating effective team dynamics

We look forward to welcoming you on .

Please feel free to ask if needed

Sincerely,

Course Coordinator
Mobile No. ..