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Date Published: February 23, 2026
In this Live event, we explore the latest innovations in the Resuscitation Suite® BLS, ALS, and PALS r.25 programs. We share what’s new, including a number of innovative tools that enhance the teaching and learning experience.
Hello and welcome to this live sunny Wednesday afternoon. I am Marie Manning, I work in marketing communications at the Red Cross, and I am joined by Colton Marsh from our product team on the Resuscitation Suite programs. I’m coming to you from Washington, DC. Please drop reflections or questions in the Facebook and LinkedIn comments; Colton and I will address them during the live or at the end of the program.
A couple of housekeeping items before we begin. I’d love to hear where everyone is joining. If you post questions in the comments, we’ll do our best to get to them during the live or at the end.
Colton, thank you for being here. Tell me a little bit about what you are working on now in your role as one of the product managers for the Resuscitation Suite.
The entire team has been working very hard on the newest release of our BLS, ALS, and PALS programs for the better part of five years. We developed all the pieces, listened to customers, and gathered feedback. In my role, I help shape these courses alongside internal partners and stakeholders. As of February 3rd, the courses are now available.
From the marketing communications team I had a sneak peek. There are about five highlights we want to touch on.
I’ll do a round robin: I’ll name an innovation and ask you to describe it. Looking at my notes, let’s start with learner specific education tracks.
Learner-specific education tracks respond to feedback asking for realism and for learners to see themselves in the courses. We incorporated hospital and EMS imagery and tracks. Every clinician faces distinct challenges — within the four walls of a hospital or in the unpredictable world of EMS. The two tracks meet the distinct needs of in-hospital healthcare providers and out-of-hospital EMS clinicians. By tailoring content to those environments, we deliver more focused, relevant training to sharpen skills, build competence, and drive better outcomes.
Learner-specific tracks guide learners through content so they can see themselves in the course. Case-based scenarios deliver realistic cases at the end: an EMS clinician walking through the door of a patient called for, gathering assessment criteria, and working through assessment and decision-making; or a clinician walking into a patient’s room in hospital. These scenarios build critical thinking and deeper learning to build confidence.
Practice as you perform expands on prior programs. Learners and instructors asked to train once, not twice, and to reduce redundancies and opportunities for error. This concept allows instructors and agencies to utilize local protocols in skills practice and scenarios, streamlining training by integrating local medical-directed protocols into scenarios. It requires medical direction and clear guidance in manuals, but it bridges the gap between classroom instruction and on-job performance, helping clinicians practice practical skills they need.
We’re seeing a wide cross section joining us: a former trauma research coordinator, an LPN, a paramedic. Heather commented this is almost like trauma and injury prevention.
Computer adaptive testing saves time, increases security, and improves fairness in testing. The final exam draws from a randomized test bank of hundreds of questions. At the halfway point the system checks whether the learner has demonstrated competency across learning objectives. If so, the exam can end early; if not, it asks additional questions or directs remediation. No two tests are alike; learners who demonstrate competency quickly can save up to 50% of exam time.
The exam can lengthen or shorten. For ALS and PALS the standard exam is 50 questions; at 25 questions we check objectives. If a learner has answered successfully, we can confidently pass them early. If not, we push remediation. This mirrors modern standardized testing where questions adapt and no two tests are identical. Those are the highlights so far.
There are several technological advances in this course release, starting with the Resuscitation Suite app and including virtual reality certification for ALS.
The Resuscitation Suite app supports clinicians, learners, and instructors. Built with Redivus Health, it combines BLS, ALS, PALS, and NALS (Neonatal Advanced Life Support) into a single app. The app includes digital code cards and reference cards for each program, a Give Care mode to start CPR, heads-up timers for compressions and medications (epinephrine, amiodarone), and prompts tied to the code cards. Use cases include classroom skills practice, skills testing, bedside use, and field use. Search the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Resuscitation Suite app to download.
A first-of-its-kind VR pathway will award an ALS certification. Learners put on a headset, act as team leader, and use voice commands to run a full code and a resuscitation. VR enables team practice in a safe environment, addressing gaps in self-directed mannequin training by providing realistic team scenarios. VR requires a current BLS certification and completion of the online ALS cognitive portion and final written exam; successful completion of all pieces awards ALS certification.
Open the app, choose the appropriate reference cards for adults or infants, and hit Start CPR to access a metronome, ventilation prompts, and medication timers. The app serves as a cognitive aid; paper guides remain available. New cognitive aids (handbook and pocket guides) will be released March 3.
Key learner benefits:
The app and core required digital course materials are free on the Red Cross Learning Center. Ancillary printed materials (pocket guides, manuals) are optional purchases.
We are aligned with the 2025 ILCOR science. After publication, our Scientific Advisory Council — a 50–60 person panel of experts in medicine, pediatrics, education, aquatics, and other areas — reviews the evidence-based, peer-reviewed science that informs the Red Cross guidelines. We ensure alignment and consistency with AHA and AAP guidelines so there is no bedside conflict when clinicians trained by different organizations provide care.
BLS and ALS go beyond a cardiac focus: ALS covers many emergencies and situations; BLS addresses shock, trauma, bleeding, and other non-cardiac topics. This breadth of science strengthens course rigor and real-world applicability.
Our continuing education page lists CEUs offered for these courses (primarily through CAPSEA for EMS and joint accreditation). Claiming is simple: after course completion you receive instructions to claim credits via email. We support clinicians maintaining licenses and professional growth by issuing substantial CE.
You cannot become an instructor directly through the app. To become an instructor:
Someone asked about not from the United States and living in the Caribbean. We are the American Red Cross and deliver courses based in the United States and U.S. territories. If you are in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can become a Red Cross instructor through the American Red Cross. Otherwise, please contact your local Red Cross or Red Crescent for regional offerings. The Red Cross Learning Center link was posted in chat.
The PAD Program Administration Database centralizes key administrative details and course-specific manuals. It is a searchable, single source of truth for instructors and training providers, with global program content and specific guidance. The search works like Google and returns precise results. The PAD is available to anybody, intended for training providers and instructors. Access it at redcross.org/pad.
All current Red Cross instructors must take the update course to teach and use the new R25 curriculum for BLS, ALS, and PALS.
Find the update under Instructor Lifecycle → Program Updates on the Red Cross Learning Center.
Summary of Meeting: The session covers the R25 Resuscitation Suite release: learner-specific education tracks (hospital and EMS), case-based scenarios, practice-as-you-perform with local protocols, computer adaptive testing, a free Resuscitation Suite app (BLS, ALS, PALS, NALS) with digital code cards and live CPR aids, an upcoming VR pathway for ALS certification, alignment to 2025 ILCOR science and AHA/AAP guidance, continuing education and instructor pathways (including bridge courses), the Program Administration Database (PAD) as a searchable single source of truth, and required instructor update courses to teach the new curriculum.
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