Tonanzint Cristobal on Expanding Life-Saving Training for Medical Professionals Through Pediatric Emergency Education

After completing advanced instructor training, Tonanzint Cristobal is expanding her impact by offering PALS certifications that equip healthcare professionals with critical pediatric emergency response skills. Driven by a passion for teaching life-saving care and improving access to advanced medical training, she is helping providers build confidence in responding to high-stakes situations — ultimately strengthening patient outcomes and preparing healthcare teams to deliver better care when it matters most.

Tonanzint, you recently completed a PALS Instructor course and are now preparing to offer PALS certifications for medical professionals. What inspired you to take this next step in your career, and what excites you most about becoming an instructor?
I enjoy teaching people how to save a life! I desired to expand the resources available to medical professionals by providing another certification.

For those who may not be familiar with it, what is PALS certification, and why is it such an important credential for healthcare providers who work with pediatric patients?
PALS certification stands for Pediatric Advanced Life Support. This certification are for professionals who would like a deeper education on life-saving skills for pediatric patients. In this class, a student will receive a 2-year AHA certification to confidently respond to pediatric emergencies.

As both a healthcare professional and instructor, what are some of the most critical skills or lessons participants gain through PALS training?
Through this PALS training, a student will learn to effectively recognize the signs and symptoms of respiratory emergencies, shock and cardiac arrest. As a mom of three young children, I personally enjoyed learning about recognizing the symptoms of the respiratory emergencies.

Medical guidelines and best practices continue to evolve. How do you stay current in the field, and how does that influence the way you teach and train others?
I stay current with medical guidelines and practices by following and implementing any AHA updates. I also enjoy asking clients questions about recent medical practices. Lastly, I stay connected with my training center and follow any new recommendations.

As you begin offering PALS certifications, what impact do you hope to have on healthcare teams and patient outcomes in your community?
I am believing that medical professionals will feel confident with responding in pediatric emergencies and be able to provide the best care possible.

Link:

• www.legacylifeskills.org