Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) is a program created by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians to teach health care providers how to take care of sick children.^[1]

Pediatric assessment triangle

The pediatric assessment triangle is one of the core components of the APLS instruction course. Assessment of a sick child is based on a quick examination of their appearance, breathing, and circulation.^[2] The appearance is determined by an examination of tone, how interactive the child is, if they are consolable, their gaze, and the quality of their speech or cry.^[3]

Topics discussed

• Pediatric Assessment
• Pediatric Airway in Health and Disease
• Shock
• Cardiovascular System
• Central Nervous System
• Trauma
• Child Maltreatment
• Nontraumatic Surgical Emergencies
• Nontraumatic Orthopedic Emergencies
• Medical Emergencies
• Neonatal Emergencies
• Procedural Sedation and Analgesia
• Children With Special Health Care Needs

• PALS Essentials
• ED and Office Preparedness for Pediatric Emergencies
• Metabolic Disease
• Environmental Emergencies
• Toxicology
• Interface With EMS
• Disaster Management
• Preparedness for Acts of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Terrorism
• Ambulatory Orthopedics in the ED
• Medical-Legal Considerations
• Imaging Strategies and Considerations
• Office Procedures
• Critical Procedures