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Recent Health Trends Increase the Need for PALS Certification: Florida

Florida’s EMTs and first responders should be properly certified – and keep their certifications up-to-date – in order to provide effective and efficient life-saving medical care to infants, children and adolescents. And if you’re looking for a healthcare job and you have a PALS certification, Florida (FL) employers may see you as more marketable, especially when taking into consideration recent pediatric health trends.

What childhood obesity means for PALS certification, Florida first responders
In the state of Florida, 33.1 percent of children are either overweight or obese1, making the childhood population much more susceptible to diseases typically affecting the adult population. 
With a PALS certification, Florida first responders and healthcare professionals can quickly begin emergency care on a child.

Higher rates of child and teen deaths mean more need for PALS Certification: Florida (FL)2
Florida has higher rates of child and teen deaths than the national average. In fact, 2007 statistics show that the death rate for FL teens ages 15 to 19 was 72 per 100,000 teens, versus the national average of 62 deaths. Florida’s death rate for children ages 1 to 14 was only slightly higher than the national average at 21 deaths per 100,000 kids versus the national average of 19.

Drowning is a significant health threat in Florida
According to the Florida Department of Health, Florida loses more children under age 5 to drowning than any other state. The state’s unintentional drowning rate from 200o to 2005 was 7.39 per 100,000 population. The next highest state – Arizona – had a rate of 5.41. The cardiopulmonary interventions taught in a PALS certification course can be invaluable when treating a child or adolescent victim of drowning.

Accidental injury may require PALS intervention
Accidental injury is the leading cause of death and disability among Florida children ages 14 and under.3Depending on the cause or severity of injury, PALS skills may be needed to help an injured child.

Why have a PALS recertification? Florida (FL) healthcare companies require it.
Healthcare companies and organizations in Florida and across the country require employees actively providing care to infants, children and adolescents to maintain a PALS certification. Healthcare professionals earning a Florida PALS recertification must do so every two years.

Health Ed Solutions, the leading provider of PALS certification and PALS recertification, provides a flexible, online course format that allows healthcare providers to recertify at their own pace. ACLS, BLS, CPR and AED training courses are also available.

1 http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=51&cat=2&sort=84&rgnhl=11

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?cat=2&sub=18&rgn=11

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/injury/safekids.html#trend