Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is a type of training provided to physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians, physician assistants and other healthcare professionals. It includes the kind of care involved in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, ACLS goes far beyond what a person would do for CPR, which is why this training is for medical professionals.
Someone trained in ACLS has to recognize a life threatening emergency such as a heart attack or stroke and provide the necessary care. Working with other members of the healthcare team, the medical professional may have to administer medication, insert an intravenous (IV) line or interpret an electrocardiogram.
Medical personnel have to take a course and pass an exam for ACLS certification. A score of 84 is required to pass the written ACLS test. A skills test is also required to show that medical professionals know how to perform any procedures discussed during training.
Passing the ACLS written and skills test can be difficult for some people. In most cases, people who fail the exam will be allowed to take it at least one additional time. The certification is good for two years unless the medical facility where a person works requires that it be completed more frequently.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification is particularly helpful when dealing with senior citizens. Statistics show that a person's chances of having a stroke doubles once he or she reaches age 55. More than half of the people who suffer from heart attacks are over the age of 65. Those who have ACLS certification will be properly trained to quickly recognize and treat stroke and heart attack victims. They are trained to use a defibrillator for heart attack patients.
Senior citizens tend to be more susceptible to diseases such as the flu and pneumonia. They are also more likely to suffer from lung diseases. The right medical training can help professionals to identify the cause of coughs, chest pains, shortness of breath and other symptoms so that the proper treatment can be provided.
Although the certification is important for dealing with the elderly, there are some precautions to be taken. Seniors often have fragile bones and it must be expected that you may crack bones. Someone doing chest compressions for CPR has to be aware of this fact and continue despite this distracting effect of CPR.
In a hospital setting, staff members have to know if a patient has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. If this paperwork exists, hospital staff must be aware of its presence and type.
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