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= Advanced Hazmat Life Support = Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) is a continuing education program that trains healthcare professionals in the treatment of patients exposed to hazardous and radiological materials, and dangerous goods. The AHLS international team includes over 1,200 AHLS Instructors, having trained nearly 20,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and EMS professionals from 78 different countries. Healthcare professionals are trained to face the difficult challenges confronted when caring for patients exposed to radiological sources, nuclear incidents, toxic terrorism, chemical agents and warfare, and toxic releases.

Continuing education credits are provided by The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy via Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), with physicians receiving credit via the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

History of AHLS
In the 1980s, training for healthcare professionals was seen as insufficient in developing the tools and knowledge necessary to treat patients exposed to hazardous materials, toxic exposure or poisoning. Michael V. Vance, MD developed a statewide toxmedic program for the state of Arizona, assisted by Frank G. Walter, MD, in training EMS professionals. Upon Dr. Vance's retirement in the early 1990s, Dr. Walter continued to develop a training program to treat exposed patients, establishing a partnership with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center (AEMRC).

Mission
The mission of AHLS is to “educate and train all healthcare professionals to medically manage patients exposed to hazardous materials.”

AHLS Courses
AHLS offers various courses covering multiple topics related to hazardous and radiological materials, dangerous goods, chemical agents and warfare, and combustible materials. AHLS courses provide continuing education credits per the hour of length for each course

AHLS Provider
The AHLS Provider course is a 16-hour, two-day course that teaches healthcare professionals with the tools needed to medically manage patients exposed to hazardous materials, including chemical, biological and radiological incidents. Participants learn to treat patients exposed to hazardous materials by recognizing the signs and symptoms. Healthcare professionals receive a four-year verification status upon successful completion of the course.

AHLS Instructor
The AHLS Instructor program is a 4-hour course, preparing participants to teach AHLS in their area or region. This course frequently follows the two-day AHLS Provider Course. Qualified participants become verified AHLS Providers and/or Instructor for a period of four years upon successful completion of the course.

AHLS for Toxic Terrorism
The AHLS for Toxic Terrorism course is a 4-hour course designed to train healthcare professionals to medically treat toxic terrorism patients, recognizing toxic syndromes (toxidromes), and administer identified antidotes, antibiotics, and vaccines.

AHLS for Chemical Burns & Toxic Products of Combustion
The AHLS for Chemical Burns & Toxic Products of Combustion course is a 4-hour course concentrating on the medical management of patients exposed to toxic inhalation, inhalation injuries, and chemical burns. The courses details routes of exposure for toxic chemicals, including carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning.

AHLS for Radiological Incidents & Terrorism
The AHLS for Radiological Incidents & Terrorism course is a 4-hour course detailing the signs and symptoms of acute radiation syndrome and internal contamination from radionuclides. Participants learn how to recognize these signs and symptoms and develop a treatment plan to medically manage patients who have experienced such events. Discussion of basics of radiation physics in addition to various radiation detection equipment is also provided.

AHLS for Tox-Medics
The AHLS for Tox-Medics course is a 4-hour course designed for those already verified as AHLS Providers. Providing a hands-on approach to topics covered in AHLS Provider, AHLS for Tox-Medics introduces various scenarios and exercises for an operations-level experience appropriate for medical professionals.

Basic Hazmat Life Support (BHLS) Online
BHLS Online is a 3-hour online self-paced course. Participants learn about hazardous materials and their physical, chemical, and other properties. Routes of exposure are discussed as they relate to the properties of the discussed hazardous material. Participants will learn to recognize toxic syndromes (toxidromes) and formulate a treatment plan. Antidotes and personal protective equipment (PPE) and their various properties are also discussed.