Online ACLS, BLS, and PALS Certification for Alaska Medical Professionals
Alaska needs more certified ACLS providers!
Alaska is currently ranked 28th in the country regarding the overall health of its residents. However, the good news is that the Last Frontier state is among the top five states in five important health categories.
With only five percent of births being low-weight babies, Alaska has the smallest percentage of any state in the U.S. Among Alaska’s population of 710,231, only two percent have reported cases of heart disease, placing the state as the second lowest number of cases of heart disease. At three percent, Alaska has the third lowest rate of heart attacks in the nation and also boasts the lowest percentage of patients with high cholesterol per capita at 34 percent. With a diabetes incidence of seven percent, Alaska ranked fifth in the diabetes health category.
In Alaska, cancer is the leading cause of death, with heart disease claiming the second largest number of lives. There is a 34.4 percent incidence of high cholesterol and a 29.5 percent incidence of high blood pressure among Alaskans. The prevalence of obesity among Alaska’s population is 27.4 percent, which is higher than the percentage of smokers (22.9 percent).
The rate of infant deaths was 6.3 per 1,000 births from 2007 to 2009, which was on par with the national average. Accidents were the leading cause of death for the seventy-five children between the ages of 1 – 19 who died during this same period of time. Physicians must be prepared to give pediatric care to children during life-threatening events.
The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) test provides people with the training needed to deliver life saving care to children. PALS gives specific steps to assist providers during high stress situations, such as at the site of a car crash. Based on the latest handbook, PALS guidelines highlight the value of team dynamics during resuscitation. Individuals learn how to initiate rapid and accurate assessment of a patient’s condition before taking action.
Before becoming a PALS provider, individuals should be well versed in Basic Life Support (BLS). ACLS Medical Training also offers BLS tests, which creates a strong foundation for other testing. As the medical field makes great strides in cardiac care over the years, guidelines have adapted accordingly. For this reason, individuals may need a refresher test to ensure they are utilizing current practices.
The BLS “Chain of Survival” provides participants with detailed information regarding both one person and two person resuscitations. Cardiac arrest is the world’s leading cause of death, so possessing the BLS skill set is invaluable.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) employs BLS techniques while instructing providers on how to increase survival rates during neurological and cardiac emergencies, specifically stroke, cardiopulmonary arrest, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Whether pursuing ACLS, BLS or PALS certifications, understanding how to respond quickly and effectively in life-threatening situations saves lives. Alaska needs more certified ACLS providers!
For more information regarding ACLS, BLS, or PALS testing, explore ACLS Medical Training today!
Despite these high ratings, the state ranks 28th in the U.S. overall, primarily due to other factors such as immunization rates, etc.
Incidence of heart disease: 2.6%
Incidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack): 3.2%
Incidence of stroke: 2.4%
Incidence of obesity: 27.4%
Incidence of diabetes: 7.9%
Incidence of high cholesterol: 34.4%
Incidence of high blood pressure: 29.4%
Incidence of smoking: 22.9%
Incidence of low birth weight: 5.7%
| Population of Alaska | 710,231 |
| Number of short-term general hospitals in Alaska | 12 |
| Number of staffed beds in Alaska | 1,057 |
| Number of primary care physicians in Alaska | 111.9 per 100,000 |
