ACLS and BLS Course

Lesson 1 • Scene Safety and Initial Assessment

Covers systematic scene evaluation and primary patient assessment before initiating care. Connects safe practice habits to effective team performance throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

Addresses duty to act, consent, and documentation obligations for responders. Grounds students in the professional accountability framework that governs resuscitation practice.

Lesson 3 • Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology

Reviews heart structure, conduction pathways, and circulatory mechanics essential for understanding arrest. Provides the anatomical context needed for every subsequent intervention in the course.

Lesson 1 • Single-Rescuer Adult BLS Sequence

Consolidates recognition, CPR, and AED steps into a single-rescuer scenario workflow. Students practice the complete sequence until performance meets current guideline standards.

Lesson 2 • Two-Rescuer Adult BLS Coordination

Introduces role assignment, switch timing, and communication between two rescuers. Efficient two-rescuer CPR reduces fatigue and improves compression quality over time.

Lesson 3 • Rescue Breathing and Ventilation

Covers mouth-to-mask and bag-mask ventilation with correct tidal volume and timing. Proper ventilation technique prevents gastric inflation and supports oxygenation during CPR.

Lesson 4 • Adult CPR Technique and Mechanics

Teaches correct hand placement, compression depth, rate, and recoil for adult victims. Mastery here is the prerequisite for all team-based resuscitation skills introduced later.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Airway Devices

Introduces supraglottic airways and endotracheal intubation concepts for ACLS-level providers. Students understand indications, insertion principles, and confirmation methods for each device.

Lesson 2 • Waveform Capnography in Airway Management

Explains end-tidal CO2 monitoring for tube confirmation and CPR quality feedback. Capnography interpretation is integrated into ACLS algorithms covered in the next chapter.

Lesson 3 • Supplemental Oxygen Delivery Devices

Covers nasal cannula, simple mask, non-rebreather mask, and high-flow systems with flow rate targets. Matching device to patient oxygen need is a core clinical decision skill.

Lesson 4 • Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal Airways

Teaches sizing, insertion, and contraindications for OPA and NPA adjuncts. Correct adjunct use maintains airway patency and improves bag-mask ventilation effectiveness.

Lesson 1 • Pediatric AED and Defibrillation

Addresses pediatric pad and dose attenuator use and energy selection for shockable rhythms. Safe defibrillation in children requires modified equipment and technique covered here.

Lesson 2 • Child CPR Technique

Covers one-hand and two-hand compression options for children aged one year to puberty. Students select the appropriate method based on child size and rescuer hand size.

Lesson 3 • Infant CPR Technique

Teaches two-finger and two-thumb encircling compression methods for infants under one year. Correct depth and rate targets differ from adult standards and are practiced to proficiency.

Lesson 4 • Pediatric Two-Rescuer BLS

Applies two-rescuer coordination principles to infant and child scenarios with role-specific adjustments. Students practice smooth transitions and communication in pediatric team scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Shockable Arrest Rhythms

Focuses on ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia recognition and characteristics. Rapid identification of shockable rhythms directly triggers defibrillation in the ACLS algorithm.

Lesson 2 • ECG Fundamentals and Lead Systems

Covers ECG paper, waveform components, intervals, and lead placement for monitoring. A solid ECG foundation is required before rhythm-specific identification in subsequent sections.

Lesson 3 • Non-Shockable Arrest Rhythms

Covers asystole and pulseless electrical activity identification and their clinical implications. Non-shockable rhythms require a different algorithm pathway focused on reversible causes.

Lesson 4 • Peri-Arrest Rhythm Recognition

Identifies bradyarrhythmias, supraventricular tachycardias, and heart blocks requiring ACLS intervention. These rhythms are the focus of the symptomatic bradycardia and tachycardia algorithms.

Lesson 1 • Reversible Causes of Cardiac Arrest

Systematically reviews each H and T cause with clinical clues and specific interventions. Rapid cause identification during arrest is a key differentiator of effective ACLS teams.

Lesson 2 • Resuscitation Pharmacology

Reviews mechanisms, doses, routes, and timing of drugs used during cardiac arrest algorithms. Pharmacological knowledge supports accurate medication administration and team communication.

Lesson 3 • Cardiac Arrest Algorithm Overview

Maps the universal cardiac arrest algorithm structure, decision points, and two-minute CPR cycles. Understanding the algorithm framework allows providers to navigate any arrest scenario systematically.

Lesson 4 • VF and Pulseless VT Management

Details the shockable pathway: defibrillation energy selection, shock delivery, and immediate CPR resumption. Epinephrine and antiarrhythmic timing within the algorithm are explicitly addressed.

Lesson 1 • Acute Coronary Syndrome Recognition

Identifies STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina using symptoms, ECG findings, and biomarkers. Early recognition enables timely reperfusion, the primary goal of ACS management.

Lesson 2 • Unstable Tachycardia and Cardioversion

Teaches synchronized cardioversion energy selection, sedation, and pad placement for unstable patients. Recognizing instability signs is the critical first step before cardioversion.

Lesson 3 • ACS Initial Management Algorithm

Applies the MONA-based initial treatment sequence and reperfusion decision pathway for ACS patients. Students practice the algorithm from first contact through transfer-of-care handoff.

Lesson 4 • Symptomatic Bradycardia Algorithm

Covers identification of hemodynamic instability from bradycardia and stepwise treatment escalation. Atropine, transcutaneous pacing, and dopamine are sequenced within the algorithm.

Lesson 1 • Integrated Megacode Simulation

Applies all ACLS and BLS skills in a full team megacode scenario with rotating leadership roles. Students are evaluated on algorithm accuracy, communication quality, and clinical decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Effective Resuscitation Teams

Defines the roles, responsibilities, and behavioral norms of high-performing resuscitation teams. Team structure directly impacts CPR quality, algorithm adherence, and patient outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Closed-Loop Communication

Teaches the call-out, check-back, and handoff communication cycle used during resuscitation. Closed-loop communication prevents medication errors and missed interventions in high-noise environments.

Lesson 4 • Debriefing and Performance Improvement

Introduces structured debriefing models for post-resuscitation team review and learning. Debriefing converts resuscitation experience into measurable performance improvement over time.