Learning advanced trauma life support abroad

Since its inception in 1976, advanced trauma life support (ATLS) has become the standard of care for trauma across the world. Although ABC principles (airway, breathing, and circulation) are instilled throughout medical education, attendance at an ATLS course is useful for people working in emergency departments, acute surgical specialties, anaesthesia, and intensive care. It is often a “desired” requirement for senior house officer appointments and increasingly is an “essential” requirement for specialist registrars.

We are both applying for registrar posts and had previously done ATLS but needed to renew our certification, as it lasts only four years. Even with eight months' notice we were unable to find places on a course in Britain. There were a few spaces for refresher courses but given the recent changes in some of the protocols in the new seventh edition of the course, and the …