Online ACLS, BLS, and PALS Certification for San Antonio Medical Professionals
The 2012 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index gave San Antonio an overall well-being rating of 67.1, which is better than the national average of 66.7. The city does fall short of meeting the average rating for metropolitan areas with a population greater than one million (67.4).
At a frequency of 54.5 percent, San Antonio’s residents’ tendency toward exercise (30 minute intervals at a minimum of three days a week) exceeded the national average of 52.7 percent. A higher frequency of residents (58.2 percent) reported consuming the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables four days a week than the national average (57.8 percent). The city possessed a much higher rate of uninsured residents (21.8 percent) than both the large metro area and the national average (15.5 and 16.9 percent).
The leading cause of death in 2010 in Bexar County was cancer with a fatality rate of 136 per 100,000 people. Heart disease followed at a rate of 135 deaths per 100,000 residents. Heart disease was the leading cause of death for Bexar County residents from 2005 to 2009. Heart disease remained the leading cause of death for women in 2010 while cancer had the highest rate of deaths in men.
Diabetes was responsible for 354 deaths in 2010—a prevalence of 21 deaths per 100,000 Bexar County inhabitants. Cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 634 fatalities and chronic lower respiratory diseases for 722 deaths. Life expectancy for Bexar residents was slightly higher than the national average at 79.3 years versus 78.7 for the country’s average.
The aim of Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is to increase the quality of care and therefore the outcomes of the critically ill or injured infants and children in San Antonio. PALS courses were designed specifically as continuing training/education for nurses, paramedics and doctors employed in emergency medicine, emergency response, intensive care, and critical care units.
But residents of San Antonio can also learn emergency care methods by completing a Basic Life Support (BLS) course. Executing proper chest compressions for infants, children, and adults is just one of the skill sets that students will develop during training. Individuals will learn emergency medical techniques concerning how one should handle and apply an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and the location of the devices. BLS instructors will also discuss the correct technique and setting for implementing rescue breathing. One and two person resuscitation teams are highlighted in the BLS “Chain of Survival” that is outlined in class.
Providers who are interested in completing Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification must have previously acquired a knowledge base of adult pharmacology, ECG Rhythm Recognition, BLS, and airway equipment and management. Students will be required to exhibit BLS principles during ACLS testing. However, instructors will not cover BLS. ACLS training focuses on BLS Survey, ACLS Survey, high quality CPR, ACLS cases for specific disorders, and post cardiac arrest care.
San Antonio inhabitants caught in medical emergencies can depend on PALS, BLS and ACLS providers for assistance.
San Antonio needs more certified ACLS providers!
