Number of Courses:  One Live 2-Hour Class
Credit Awarded:  2 Hours
Credit Type: Advanced
Accredited: IBSC, CAPCE (F5-VILT), CE Broker (FL & TN), Pennsylvania Bureau of EMS, and Virginia Office of EMS
Enrollment Period:  One year or until completed, whichever comes first
Topics: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

This CE activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education for a total of 2 Paramedic Critical Care CEH.

Are you in need of a few critical care hours to round out your FP-C or CCP-C recertification? Or just want something different to put towards your NRP recertification? This individual Critical Care course will meet those needs.

IBSC Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification APPROVED!

Want to see when classes are offered, click here DistanceCME Course Calendar

Topics covered in this Live CCTR L9

  • Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (2 hr)

If you need more than a few hours, this program is perfect for your continuing education: Critical Care Transport Review. The Critical Care Transport program can also be used for your NREMT Recertification.

Course Overview
Pediatric cardiac arrest often follows progressive respiratory failure or circulatory compromise, making early recognition and intervention essential. This comprehensive course explores neurologic, metabolic, cardiac, and respiratory emergencies that can lead to pediatric deterioration. Participants review assessment and stabilization strategies, escalation of respiratory support, and resuscitation considerations for critically ill children in the transport environment.

Neurologic Emergencies & Seizure Recognition
Learners examine pediatric seizure presentations, including tonic, clonic, tonic-clonic, and myoclonic activity. The course distinguishes simple and complex febrile seizures and reviews conditions that can resemble seizure activity. Participants also explore meningitis and increased intracranial pressure, connecting changes in mental status, examination findings, and relevant history with assessment and treatment priorities.

Metabolic Emergencies & Diabetic Ketoacidosis
This section reviews inborn errors of metabolism and the findings that may suggest an underlying metabolic disorder, including unexplained hypoglycemia, vomiting, and acidosis. Participants examine diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), with attention to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and insulin therapy considerations. The course also addresses neurologic monitoring and recognition of cerebral complications during ongoing treatment and transport.

Bradycardia & Cardiovascular Compromise
Participants explore primary and secondary causes of pediatric bradycardia, including cardiac disease, hypoxia, hypothermia, and metabolic disturbances. The course emphasizes evaluating perfusion and identifying contributing conditions when interpreting a slow heart rate. Learners review the roles of respiratory support, chest compressions, medications, and pacing in the management of a deteriorating pediatric patient.

Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies
Learners examine croup, epiglottitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma, and anaphylaxis. The course connects upper and lower airway pathology with findings such as stridor, wheezing, retractions, and changes in respiratory effort. Participants also review brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) and the importance of investigating alternative explanations for changes in breathing, color, tone, or responsiveness.

Recognition & Management of Respiratory Failure
This section explores the distinction between ventilation and oxygenation and the progression from respiratory distress to failure. Participants review positioning, suctioning, bag-mask ventilation, and supplemental oxygen alongside medication and monitoring considerations. The course also examines noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and signs that indicate a need to prepare for advanced airway management.

Advanced Airway & Ventilation Considerations
Participants review pediatric intubation preparation, including patient positioning, equipment selection, preoxygenation, and apneic oxygenation. The course emphasizes anticipating limited oxygen reserves and preparing for a successful initial attempt. Learners also examine ventilation challenges in severe asthma, including restricted expiratory flow, air trapping, and the importance of reassessing airway pressures and ventilation effectiveness.

Cardiac Arrest & Resuscitation Monitoring
Learners review chest compression quality, full recoil, and compressor rotation during pediatric cardiac arrest. The course explores end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring as an aid to assessing resuscitation performance and recognizing possible return of spontaneous circulation. Emphasis remains on coordinated resuscitation while addressing the respiratory or circulatory problems that contributed to arrest.

Clinical Integration & Transport Planning
Throughout the course, pediatric assessment findings are linked to treatment escalation and ongoing reassessment. Participants examine how changes in respiratory effort, consciousness, and perfusion influence priorities during transport. The course also reviews weight-based maintenance fluids and the preparation needed to continue respiratory support and other therapies for critically ill children.

Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for paramedics involved in critical care transport who are seeking a comprehensive review of pediatric medical emergencies, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. As Lesson 9 of the Critical Care Transport Review series, it supports early recognition of deterioration, preparation for advanced interventions, and coordinated pediatric resuscitation during transport.