Pediatric Emergency Assessment,

Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS)

A young girl in a gurney holding hands with a nurse.

The AHA’s PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization) Course has been updated to reflect science in the 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. In this classroom-based, Instructor-led course, students learn how to use a systematic approach to quickly assess, recognize the cause, and stabilize a pediatric patient in an emergency situation.

During PEARS, students interact with real patient cases and realistic simulations and animations to assess and stabilize pediatric patients experiencing respiratory and shock emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest. PEARS prepares students to provide appropriate lifesaving interventions within the initial minutes of response until a child can be transferred to an advanced life support provider.

    • Systematic pediatric assessment

    • Recognition and stabilization of respiratory emergencies

    • Recognition and stabilization of shock emergencies

    • Recognition and stabilization of cardiopulmonary arrest

    • Resuscitation team concept

  • The AHA’s PEARS Course is designed for healthcare providers and others who might encounter pediatric emergency situations during their work, including:

    • Physicians and nurses not specializing in pediatrics

    • Nurse practitioners

    • Physician assistants

    • EMTs,

    • Respiratory therapists

    • Prehospital and in-facility healthcare providers (outside of critical-care areas)

    • Outpatient clinic staff

    • School-based providers

    • Any other healthcare provider who infrequently sees critically ill or injured infants and children

Course Format

PEARS is a classroom-based, Instructor-led course.

Course Time: Approximately 9 hours with breaks.

Course Cost: $350. Use discount code: PEARS to save $50 off

What to Bring

Please arrive 15 minutes early and bring:

  • Valid driver’s license or ID.

ACLS Academy will supply a pen, paper, and a folder that includes all of the documents you will need.

After Completion of This Course

Students who successfully complete the PEARS Course will receive a PEARS Provider course completion card (print or eCard), valid for 2 years. Course completion requirements include:

  • Active participation in the case discussions

  • Active participation in the rescue breathing skills station and cardiac arrest case simulations

  • Pass the skills tests in 1- and 2-rescuer child BLS with AED and 1- and 2-rescuer infant BLS

  • Pass the video-based written exam with a minimum score of 84%