LIFE-SUPPORT COURSES FOR ALL

Many courses teaching advanced life support skills are now available i n this country. These 'provider' courses include those dealing with ca rdiac, trauma and paediatric resuscitation. The numbers of applicants for all these courses far exceed the places available. There is furthe r demand for places from those who currently hold advanced life suppor t provider certificates and who require re-evaluation to maintain thei r certification. For many, particularly non-medical staff, obtaining f unding or study leave to attend such a course may also be a problem. A ll these factors lead to delays in providing the training in advanced life support skills that is clearly needed. We here report on the deve lopment and success of local 1-day resuscitation courses as a means of introducing all staff who may be expected to cope with an emergency s ituation to the current principles of resuscitation. We do not suggest that such abbreviated courses are in any way a substitute for the ful l advanced life support course, but that they can provide tuition that may otherwise be unavailable.