Twenty-five Iranian pediatric experts have been officially certified as instructors and 50 as providers of Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), an internationally recognized methodology of child resuscitation and rescue of the American Heart Association.
A team of senior experts from the US Johns Hopkins School of Medicine conducted the training free of charge from November 6-8 in Tehran for the pediatric medical experts including pediatricians, pediatric nurses, pediatric anesthesiologists and other experts from seven medical universities across the country.
The three-day training under a joint collaboration between the Health Ministry’s Children’s Health Department and UNICEF Iran Office, included two days of theory and practical sessions and a one-day seminar presenting the latest knowledge and skills of child resuscitation and rescue according to PALS standards, the un.org.ir reported.
Dr Hamed Barekati, head of Children’s Health Department hoped the ministry could expand the knowledge and skills on PALS through the newly certified instructors to all service providers working with children at risk and children in difficult physical conditions.
“We will include these guidelines in the health services but we also need to make sure that the required settings for putting into practice the theories of PALS are provided.”
UNICEF Representative in Iran Will Parks said although the number of deaths and disabilities among children caused by communicable diseases has dramatically reduced in Iran, more can be done to prevent child mortality and disability rooted in other causes such as congenital diseases.
“That is why we believe efforts to improve child survival need to progressively shift towards improving national capacities and upgrading the knowledge and skills of pediatricians, nurses, emergency medicine experts, and all other relevant experts in lifesaving and resuscitation of children.”
One of the newly certified PALS instructors, a pediatrician and CEO of Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Dr Elham Talachian, described the training as “unique” in all aspects.
“Not only were the course material well-structured and up-to-date, but the presentation and speech techniques of trainers were of high quality.”
The first round of PALS training was held in May 2016 for the group. The second round was complementary to the first phase and as part of the certification process of PALS instructors.
The newly certified trainers will pass on their skills to other relevant domestic experts to ensure the sustainability of PALS in Iran. The Clinical Skills Center of Tehran University School of Medicine has been selected as the national center for PALS training.
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