Program Overview
The American Red Cross Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) program trains healthcare providers to care for pediatric patients who are experiencing life-threading emergencies such as cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies and shock. Content in this program is consistent with:
- The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations.
- The American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020.
Program Highlights and Enhancements
The PALS program content was updated to include policy statements, evidence reviews and guidelines from:
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG)
- American College of Surgeons (ACS)
- American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care (AHA ECC)
- Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) o Obstetric Life Support™ (OBLSTM)
- Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American College of Critical Care
Medicine (ACCM)
- Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC)
Content Updates
The r.21 release of PALS is focused on changes to the science of resuscitation care and education.
There have been no changes to the way that instructors or students interact with the Red Cross PALS program components or with the Red Cross Learning Center. A summary of content changes for PALS r.21 can be found in the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor and Instructor Trainer Updates.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support Code Cards
The American Red Cross Code Cards are visual flow charts that can be used as cognitive aids for resuscitation care. The inclusion of Code Cards is a significant change to the programs. Code Cards for BLS have been newly developed for the r.21 release. Code Cards are replacing the Treatment Guidelines in all Resuscitation SuiteTM programs. The r.21 Code Cards are based on guidance found in the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020. The Code Cards are available for download from the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (r.21) program page on the Red Cross Learning Center (RCLC).
Pediatric Advanced Life Support Blended Learning Course – Highlights
- Adaptive learning functionality designed to offer personalized, focused learning and overall shorter course seat-times. Participants may complete an optional pre-assessment for each lesson to receive an independent learning path based on the results from the pre-assessment. Based on the results of the pre-assessment, participants may “test out” of a lesson, or test out of specific topics within a lesson which can reduce overall seat time.
- Interactive scenarios replace simulated learning. Scenarios are designed to help improve clinical decision-making skills and replace “game-like” scenarios allowing providers to focus on the important decisions related to providing patient care instead of time spent “learning the game” which was a common complaint in competitor products.
- Responsive design allows for a user-friendly experience on a desktop, tablets and mobile devices giving learners the flexibility to work through the courses at their convenience.
- Authentic hospital settings and personnel used throughout the course
Base-Level Courses
Blended Learning
The eLearning session of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support course is HTML based and does not require flash player. The eLearning session can be completed on a computer, tablet or mobile device. Technical requirements for the eLearning session of the course are provided below. Since the blended learning course feature adaptive learning functionality, completion times will vary by participant, depending on the participant’s experience and familiarity with course content. The typical completion time for the eLearning session of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support course is 5 hours.
| Processors | Dual-‐core processor speed greater than or equal to 2.3GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Operating Systems | Desktop: Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, OS X El Capitan 10.11+
Mobile: iOS 9+ (Safari), Android 5+ (Google Chrome), Edge 13+ Edge HTML/25+ Version (Windows Tablets) |
| Browsers | IE11, Edge 13+ Edge HTML/25+ Version, Chrome 58+, Firefox 52+, Safari 9+
Cookies, JavaScript, Images, HTML5 audio/video must be supported |
| Screen Resolution | n/a |
| Color Depth | High Color, 32 Bit |
| Bandwidth | 2.0 mbps dedicated or faster. Broadband internet access is recommended. |
| Audio | Audio-output capabilities and either speakers or headphones |
Course Codes and Course Durations
Course codes in Learning Center are the same; however, an “r.21” version has been added and should be used when delivering courses using the new program materials. A summary of courses and durations is provided below.
| Course Name | Course Code and
Version |
Delivery Format | Length (H:MM) |
| Pediatric Advanced Life
Support |
HSSBLS110-r.21 | Instructor-Led (Classroom) | 11:15 |
| Pediatric Advanced Life
Support Blended Learning |
HSSBLS110-r.21-BL | Blended Learning | Online: 3h to 6h
(4h average, varies) In-Person: 3:05-4:15 |
| Pediatric Advanced Life
Support Review |
HSSBLS110R-r.21 | Instructor-Led (Classroom) | 4:45 (Varies) |
| Pediatric Advanced Life
Support Challenge |
HSSBLS110C-r.21 | Instructor-Led (Classroom) | Varies |
Course Materials and Supplies
All course materials have been updated with the latest science and program changes. As before, all basic-level products are available as free digital downloads for instructors from the Red Cross Learning Center or for purchase through the Red Cross Store.
The Pediatric Advanced Life Support Participant Manual is available for free digital download to participants on the Participant Materials page on Redcross.org or for purchase through Red Cross Store.
With the 2021 release, the Pediatric Advanced Life
Support program will continue to have two separate Instructor Manuals for a streamlined experience. Both instructor’s manuals will be available for free digital download on the Red Cross Learning Center and for purchase on the Red Cross store.
These instructor’s manuals will also be available in the ALS Instructor’s Kit and Deluxe Instructor’s Kit.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor’s Manual for Instructor-Led Training
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor’s Manual for Blended Learning
| Item Number | Print Product Title | SRP |
| 755039 | Pediatric Advanced Life Support Participant’s Manual | $50.00 |
| 755040 | Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Instructor’s Manual for Instructor-Led Training |
$42.50 |
| 755041 | Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Instructor’s Manual for Blended Learning |
$42.50 |
| 755043 | Pediatric Advanced Life Support Emergency Code Cards, Set/10 | $27.00 |
Digital Materials
The following materials will be available in digital format:
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Participant’s Manual
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor’s Manual for Blended Learning
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor’s Manual for Instructor-Led Training
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Course Presentation (available via the Course Presentation Manager)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor Trainer’s Guide
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor Course Presentation (available via the Course Presentation Manager)
Instructor and Instructor Trainer Update
In order to teach the r.21 courses, instructors and ITs must complete an update which will also serve as a recertification. For more information and self-enrollment links, please see Instructor and Instructor Trainer Update/Recertification document on the Red Cross Learning Center under
INSTRUCTOR LIFECYCLE/PROGRAM UPDATES.
PALS Instructor Update FAQs
Question: How do I update my instructor certification?
Answer: Current PALS Instructors eligible for the PALS update were automatically assigned the Instructor Update in the Red Cross Learning Center and an email notification was sent to alert each instructor that the online update was available for them. In order to complete the update,
Instructors/ITs must obtain and review all course materials and complete the online instructor update course. Course materials are available in digital format on the Red Cross Learning Center and in print format on the Red Cross store.
Question: I am a Red Cross Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor Trainer and I completed the 2019 PALS update on/after January 8, 2019. Do I need to complete another update before teaching the 2021 PALS Instructor Course?
Answer: Yes. In order to teach the 2021 program, instructors and instructor trainers must complete the online update. Once complete, instructor trainers will be issued a new Instructor Trainer and Instructor certification.
Question: What should I do if I am a current PALS Instructor and I did not receive the email notification and/or cannot see the update in the Red Cross Learning Center?
Answer: If you were not assigned the update and you think this is in error, please navigate to the
Red Cross Learning Center INSTRUCOR LIFECYCLE/PROGRAM UPDATES to review the document containing the update information and links to self-enroll.
Question: What is the deadline for completing the update?
Answer: The deadline for completing the update for instructors and instructor trainers is November 30, 2021.
Question: I already completed a recertification assessment recently, why do I need to take an instructor update?
Answer: Instructor recertification is required every two years and that is done by completing a recertification assessment regardless of program updates. An instructor update is required whenever a program is revised as in this case for the Pediatric Advanced Life Support program. The Instructor Update for the Pediatric Advanced Life Support program provides an overview of the recent science changes incorporated in our programs.
Question: I am and Instructor Trainer. Do I need to complete the Instructor Update as well as the IT Update?
Answer: No. Once complete, instructor trainers will be issued a new Instructor Trainer and Instructor certification.
Question: I completed the update. How can I tell if I am updated in the system?
Answer: Verify your certification by checking your profile in the Red Cross Learning Center. Look under the MY CERTIFICATION tab. You should see the certification title with an EXPIRATION date 2 years from the date you completed the update.
Question: When are other programs being updated or released?
Answer: The Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Blended Learning courses also released on June 1, 2021. Instructors and Instructor Trainers who teach multiple programs must complete an online update for each program. For example, if an instructor is certified to teach BLS and ALS currently, the instructor must complete an update for BOTH BLS and ALS, as the content update in each program is different.
Question: I completed the Instructor or Instructor Trainer Bridge. Do I need to take an Instructor/IT update?
Answer: If you enrolled in an Instructor or Instructor Trainer Bridge after May 13, 2021, you DO NOT have to complete an update to teach the new program content (r.21).
