Introduction

The practice of Emergency Medicine requires a broad range of both knowledge and technical skills.

Many doctors, such as rural general practitioners and hospital medical officers, play an important and significant role in the delivery of emergency medical care to seriously ill patients. They often do so in relative isolation and without the benefit of on-site supervision by Emergency Medicine specialists.

The emergency management of seriously ill patients can be an infrequent and therefore frightening event for these doctors.

A strong need exists for a comprehensive course that teaches the necessary skills and knowledge to these doctors to help them manage patients with medical emergencies safely and effectively.

In response to this need a group of Australian Emergency Medicine specialists has created the Emergency Life Support (ELS) Course and course manual.

The first ELS Course was held in Australia in Tamworth, New South Wales (NSW) in 1997.

By the end of 2008, 151 courses had been held in various locations through Australia and New Zealand and over 2700 medical practitioners had participated in the course. The ELS Course became an incorporated association in 1999 and as such, operates as a non-profit organisation, is self-funding, and continues to operate on the strength of its instructors who donate their time and expertise for free.