A new intermediate-level pediatric course from the American Heart Association, Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization, (PEARS), is aimed at bridging the training gap between those who regularly provide advanced life support for children and those who rarely care for critically ill and injured kids.

The primary focus of PEARS is prevention of cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. It is designed to help providers recognize certain signs and symptoms of a child in cardiopulmonary distress who urgently needs assistance.

PEARS is not a prerequisite for PALS, but provides a foundation for it.

For more information visit: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3052085