Essential life support: emergency obstetrics

Abstract

Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) (UK) has been providing training courses relating to obstetric emergencies in the UK since 1996. The course lasts two days with doctors and midwives teaching doctors and midwives and other professionals, some of whom have been paramedics.

ALSO instructors have been involved in teaching paramedics at the request of ambulance services. Having a specifically designed one day course geared up to meet the needs of those called out in the community for maternity emergencies was considered to be a way forward for emergency staff having to deal with these situations. This course has been called Essential Life Support in Obstetrics (ELSO).