When a child becomes critically ill, the response needs to be different from an adult emergency. Children's anatomy is different. The causes of cardiac arrest in children are different. The airway management techniques are different. And the emotional pressure of managing a paediatric emergency is something that even the most experienced healthcare professionals find uniquely challenging.
For healthcare professionals in the Knutsford area who work with children, Paediatric Immediate Life Support training is the course that builds the specific skills needed for these high-stakes situations. It is not general first aid. It is advanced clinical training designed for professionals who may need to recognise and manage a seriously ill child.
We are PCT Services, and we deliver Resuscitation Council UK accredited ePILS training from our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich, about a 15 minute drive from Knutsford.
What is ePILS?
ePILS stands for e-learning Paediatric Immediate Life Support. It is accredited by the Resuscitation Council UK and combines online pre-learning with a four and a half hour face to face practical session. The course is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who may be involved in the initial response to a seriously ill or injured child.
The course covers the systematic assessment of a sick child, including recognising the signs of respiratory failure, circulatory failure, and central neurological failure. You will learn paediatric airway management techniques, including how to manage an obstructed airway and how to provide effective ventilation using a bag-valve-mask. The course covers paediatric CPR with the correct compression-to-ventilation ratios for infants and children. And you will learn the structured approach to managing a paediatric cardiac arrest as part of a team.
This is advanced, hands on clinical training. You will practise on paediatric manikins and work through realistic scenarios, with feedback from instructors who understand the clinical reality of managing sick children.
The course costs £150 per person, the certificate is valid for one year, and groups are kept small at a maximum of six to ensure everyone gets substantial practice time.
Who needs ePILS in the Knutsford area?
The Knutsford area has a number of healthcare professionals and services that work directly with children, and ePILS is relevant for many of them.
Children's nurses working in hospital or community settings who could be the first to respond when a child deteriorates. Health visitors who see families in their homes and may encounter a critically ill infant. School nurses who are the on-site healthcare professional for hundreds of children. Paediatric staff working in outpatient clinics or assessment units. Community children's nurses providing care to children with complex health needs in the community. GPs who treat children in their surgeries and need to be prepared for a paediatric emergency during a consultation. And any healthcare professional whose clinical role involves regular contact with children.
Annual refresher training is important for ePILS because paediatric emergencies are, thankfully, rare. That means opportunities to practise these skills in real life are limited, and without regular refreshers, the skills and confidence fade.
Paediatric Immediate Life Support Training (ePILS)
The Paediatric Immediate Life Support course is a specialised half-day training programme designed to equip healthcare professionals with critical skills for managing paediatric emergencies. This Resuscitation Council accredited course focuses on the ABCDE approach, immediate life support techniques, and team leadership skills essential for treating seriously ill or deteriorating children until expert help arrives.
How ePILS differs from paediatric first aid
It is worth being clear about the difference. Paediatric first aid courses, which we also deliver, are designed for childcare professionals like nursery workers, childminders, and school staff. They cover the practical first aid skills needed to manage common childhood emergencies like choking, burns, and febrile convulsions.
ePILS is a different level entirely. It is for healthcare professionals who have clinical training and need advanced life support skills for managing critically ill children. The two courses serve different audiences and different purposes, and both are important.
BLS as the foundation
Alongside ePILS, we also deliver Basic Life Support training, which is a two hour CPD certified course covering adult CPR, AED use, and the recovery position. BLS is the mandatory annual refresher for all healthcare workers, and it should be in place for your entire team before you layer on advanced courses like ePILS.
For a children's healthcare service in the Knutsford area, the recommended approach is BLS annually for all staff and ePILS annually for the clinical team who work directly with children. This ensures that everyone can respond to a cardiac arrest, and the children's specialists have the advanced paediatric skills on top.
Check our Basic Life Support page for BLS dates.
Basic Life Support Training (BLS)
This Basic Life Support course provides essential knowledge and practical skills to competently recognise a cardiac arrest and commence basic life support in adults, children and infants. It also covers safe application of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator), how to use a pocket mask, administration of oxygen, and the initial assessment and management of anaphylaxis.
Northwich Training Centre, Northwich
Fully booked · 3 dates available
Close to Knutsford
Our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich is only about a 15 minute drive from Knutsford. We run scheduled ePILS courses throughout the year with live dates on our Paediatric Immediate Life Support page. The small group size of six means places fill quickly, so book early to get the date you need.
Book your training
If you are a healthcare professional in the Knutsford area who works with children and you need to get your paediatric life support training sorted, check the upcoming dates on our Paediatric Immediate Life Support page and book directly. Or give us a call on 07958 915146 and we can discuss what your team needs. When a child's life is in your hands, the training has to be the best.
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