Pediatric advanced life support
AHA PALS Classes in Jacksonville, FL
Strengthen your ability to assess and manage respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias and cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children. Train with experienced instructors in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Select the correct initial, renewal or HeartCode skills-session option on the registration calendar.
Who needs PALS?
Designed for professionals who respond to pediatric emergencies.
PALS is intended for healthcare professionals who assess or manage respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies involving infants and children.
Registered Nurses
Pediatric, emergency, critical-care, procedural and other nurses who may respond to a pediatric emergency.
Physicians & Advanced Practitioners
Pediatricians, emergency physicians, hospitalists, nurse practitioners and physician associates.
Paramedics & EMS
Advanced prehospital professionals who assess and manage ill or injured pediatric patients.
Respiratory Therapists
Clinicians who manage pediatric oxygenation, ventilation and airway emergencies.
Clinical Students
Students whose nursing, medical, EMS or allied-health program specifically requires PALS.
Other Pediatric Professionals
Healthcare professionals whose employer or clinical assignment requires a PALS Provider card.
Choose your course
Select the PALS option that matches your requirement.
Availability varies by date. Review the live registration description before enrolling, especially when choosing between a full provider course, update course and HeartCode skills session.
PALS Initial Provider
For healthcare professionals earning PALS for the first time or completing the full provider-course pathway.
- Systematic pediatric assessment
- Respiratory emergencies and shock
- Arrhythmias and cardiac arrest
- Team scenarios and evaluations
PALS Renewal / Update
For experienced providers refreshing knowledge and completing the applicable AHA update-course requirements.
- Review of current PALS science
- Weight-based medications
- High-performance team practice
- Course evaluations for renewal
HeartCode PALS Skills
For students who completed the required AHA HeartCode PALS online portion and need an instructor-led skills session.
- Bring the required completion certificate
- Hands-on skills practice and testing
- Pediatric team scenario evaluation
- Confirm prerequisites before arrival
What the course covers
Build a systematic response to a seriously ill or injured child.
PALS builds on strong pediatric BLS skills. Students practice rapid assessment, early intervention and effective teamwork across respiratory, circulatory and cardiac emergencies.
- Pediatric Assessment Triangle and systematic assessment
- Recognition of respiratory distress and respiratory failure
- Recognition and management of compensated and hypotensive shock
- Pediatric bradycardia and tachyarrhythmias with a pulse
- Shockable and nonshockable pediatric cardiac arrest
- Post–cardiac-arrest care and patient reassessment
- Closed-loop communication and high-performance teams
Before class
Prepare before you arrive.
PALS is an advanced course. Complete the assigned preparation and arrive ready to apply pediatric assessment, BLS, medications and algorithms during team scenarios.
Confirm Your Course
Verify whether you need initial, renewal or HeartCode skills testing.
Complete Prework
Finish all assigned AHA prework or online modules before the deadline.
Review Core Skills
Refresh pediatric BLS, assessment, rhythms, weight-based doses and algorithms.
Bring Documentation
Bring required completion certificates and items listed in your confirmation.
Related healthcare training
Make sure you select the correct advanced course.
Frequently asked questions
PALS class questions
Who should take a PALS course?
PALS is designed for healthcare professionals who respond to emergencies involving infants and children, including nurses, physicians, paramedics, respiratory therapists and other clinicians in emergency, intensive-care and critical-care settings.
Is PALS the same as Pediatric CPR?
No. Pediatric CPR teaches foundational CPR, AED and emergency-response skills. PALS is an advanced healthcare-provider course covering systematic assessment, respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, medications and pediatric resuscitation teams.
Do I need a current BLS card?
PALS assumes proficiency in pediatric BLS. Your employer, school or selected course option may require a current BLS Provider card. Review the registration description or contact us before enrolling.
How long is an AHA PALS card valid?
The AHA PALS Provider course-completion eCard is valid for two years after successful completion.
Can PALS be completed entirely online?
HeartCode PALS combines online learning with an approved hands-on skills session. Completing only the online portion does not complete the full blended-learning course or produce the final provider eCard.
What should I study before class?
Review pediatric BLS, the systematic assessment approach, respiratory emergencies, shock, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, cardiac arrest, weight-based medications and team communication. Use the study sheets below as a review—not as a replacement for your official course materials.
Where are Jacksonville PALS classes held?
Florida Training Academy is located at 631 Cassat Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205. Check your confirmation for the exact arrival time and course instructions.
How much does the PALS class cost?
Current prices are displayed with each option on the registration calendar. Select a class to review the course details and total before checkout.
Free study resources
PALS Algorithms & Quick-Review Sheets
Open the official 2025 AHA/AAP algorithms, then use the original Florida Training Academy summaries to reinforce high-yield concepts before class.
Florida Training Academy PALS Quick Review
Pediatric advanced life support • Jacksonville, Florida • FLtraining.com
1. Systematic Pediatric Assessment
First impression: PAT
- Appearance: tone, interaction, consolability, look/gaze and speech/cry.
- Work of breathing: sounds, positioning, retractions and flaring.
- Circulation to skin: pallor, mottling and cyanosis.
Primary assessment: ABCDE
- A: Airway
- B: Breathing
- C: Circulation
- D: Disability
- E: Exposure
Keep reassessing
Identify the life threat, intervene, evaluate the response and repeat the assessment. Use vital signs, history and diagnostic data to refine care.
2. High-Quality Pediatric CPR
- Rate: 100–120 compressions/min.
- Depth: at least one-third the anterior-posterior chest depth.
- Allow full chest recoil and minimize interruptions.
- Change compressors every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued.
- 1 rescuer, any age: 30:2.
- 2 rescuers, prepuberty: 15:2.
- 2 rescuers, after puberty onset: 30:2.
- Advanced airway: continuous compressions and 1 breath every 2–3 seconds.
Defibrillation
First shock 2 J/kgSecond shock 4 J/kgThen ≥4 J/kgDo not exceed 10 J/kg or the adult maximum dose.
3. Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
Start
Begin CPR, use bag-mask ventilation with oxygen and attach the monitor/defibrillator. Determine whether the rhythm is shockable.
VF / pulseless VT
- Shock as soon as possible, then resume CPR for 2 minutes.
- Establish IV/IO access.
- Give epinephrine every 3–5 minutes and consider advanced airway/capnography.
- For refractory VF/pVT, use amiodarone or lidocaine and treat reversible causes.
PEA / asystole
- Give epinephrine as soon as possible.
- Continue 2-minute CPR cycles, assess rhythm and treat reversible causes.
Key doses
Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO, max 1 mgAmiodarone 5 mg/kg, max 300 mgLidocaine 1 mg/kg4. Bradycardia With a Pulse
Is there compromise?
Look for acutely altered mental status, signs of shock or hypotension.
Support first
- Maintain the airway and provide oxygen.
- Assist breathing with positive-pressure ventilation when needed.
- Attach the monitor and monitor the pulse.
If compromise persists
- Start CPR when the heart rate is below 60/min.
- Obtain IV/IO access and give epinephrine.
- Use atropine for increased vagal tone or primary AV block.
- Treat the cause; consider transthoracic/transvenous pacing.
- Check the pulse every 2 minutes.
Atropine may be repeated once.
5. Tachyarrhythmia With a Pulse
Assess and support
Maintain the airway; support breathing with oxygen and positive-pressure ventilation as necessary; attach a monitor; obtain IV/IO access and a 12-lead ECG when available.
Sinus or SVT?
- Probable sinus: normal P waves, variable RR, infant rate usually below 220/min and child rate usually below 180/min.
- Probable SVT: absent/abnormal P waves, fixed RR, infant rate usually ≥220/min or child rate usually ≥180/min, often with abrupt rate change.
Compromise?
For altered mental status, shock or hypotension, prepare synchronized cardioversion. Sedate when needed, but do not delay treatment.
Cardioversion 0.5–1 J/kgThen 2 J/kg if ineffectiveAdenosine 0.1 mg/kg, max 6 mgRepeat 0.2 mg/kg, max 12 mg6. Reversible Causes: Hs & Ts
Hs
- Hypovolemia
- Hypoxia
- Hydrogen ion excess (acidosis)
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypokalemia or hyperkalemia
- Hypothermia
Ts
- Tension pneumothorax
- Cardiac tamponade
- Toxins
- Pulmonary thrombosis
- Coronary thrombosis
Team reminder
Use closed-loop communication, confirm weight-based calculations, assign clear roles and reassess the child after every intervention.
Educational use only: These original summaries support course preparation and memory review. They do not replace the official AHA PALS Provider Manual, complete algorithms, clinical judgment, medical direction or your facility's protocols. Medication administration, electrical therapy and patient management must be performed by appropriately trained professionals within their authorized scope of practice. Verify the child's weight, medication concentration and dose before administration, and always follow current official AHA/AAP materials and local policies.
Ready to earn or renew your PALS card?
Choose an upcoming AHA PALS class in Jacksonville and review the course requirements before completing registration.
