American Red Cross and American Heart Association Announce Revised First Aid Guidelines

On October 18, the American Heart Association (AHA) announced new guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). For the first time in more than 40 years, AHA is recommending that individuals administering CPR begin with chest compressions before clearing a victim’s airway and breathing into a victim’s mouth. Previously, AHA had promoted the A-B-Cs (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) of CPR, which have now been changed to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing).

Also on October 18, the American Red Cross and AHA announced changes to guidelines for administering first aid, including updated recommendations for the treatment of snake bites, anaphylaxis (shock), jellyfish stings, and severe bleeding. 

The new guidelines for CPR and ECC as well as first aid are published in the November 2 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association and have been posted on the AHA web site.