Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) courses are nationally recognized continuing education programs for prehospital emergency health care professionals that bring the care of the trauma patient into a single focus. PHTLS courses provide a prehospital trauma care philosophy, stressing the need to treat the multisystem trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. This may require an approach to the trauma patient that varies from traditional treatment modalities.

PHTLS courses are based on the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), a course for physicians developed by the American College of Surgeons-Committee on Trauma. More importantly, PHTLS courses follow the principles of care of trauma patients as developed by the Committee on Trauma.

The Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons provides the medical direction and content oversight for the PHTLS program. They are represented by the medical directors on the Executive Council of the PHTLS Division of the National Association of EMTs. (Reproduced from the PHTLS 5th edition Instructor Text-Copyright 2003, Mosby, Inc.)

Although PHTLS originated in the United States, it has evolved and serves very much as an International program, now available to EMS providers in 33 countries. [PHTLS International]

The PHTLS Provider course is designed to be an intensive 16-20 hour experience. It is available to all levels of prehospital care providers, and programmes are typically attended by Emergency First Responders (Fire, Police, Search & Rescue, etc.), EMTs, Paramedics, Nurses (including Industrial based Occupational Health Nurses), Physicians, and Physician Assistants.

The course is scenario-based, with lectures and interactive skills station components meant to enhance the prehospital care providers' knowledge, and further develop the critical thinking skills required to effectively treat the trauma patient in the field.

The American Heart Association's Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) course is for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient, whether in or out of hospital. Through the ACLS course, providers will enhance their skills in the treatment of the adult victim of a cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary emergencies. ACLS emphasizes the importance of basic life support CPR to patient survival; the integration of effective basic life support with advanced cardiovascular life support interventions; and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation.

ACLS is based on simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students will practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. Realistic simulations reinforce the following key concepts: proficiency in basic life support care; recognizing and initiating early management of peri-arrest conditions; managing cardiac arrest; identifying and treating ischemic chest pain and acute coronary syndromes; recognizing other life-threatening clinical situations (such as stroke) and providing initial care; ACLS algorithms; and effective resuscitation team dynamics.

The Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP) Course has a rich history. It is the product of fifteen years of collaboration, brainstorming, review, revision, and re-revision by many dedicated physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and EMS educators interested in improving the quality of prehospital care for children.

The PEPP Course is the culmination of the best and most recent educational efforts in prehospital pediatrics, including the pediatric components of the National Standard Curricula for EMT-Basics, Intermediates, and Paramedics.