European Resusitation Council & Resusitation Council UK Guidelines for Resuscitation Summary 2005

Main changes in adult basic life support

• The decision to start CPR is made if a victim is unresponsive and not   breathing normally.

• Rescuers should be taught to place their hands on the centre of the chest, rather than to spend more time using the ‘rib margin’ method.

• Each rescue breath is given over 1 sec rather than 2 sec.

• The ratio of compressions to ventilations is 30:2 for all adult victims of cardiac arrest. This same ratio should also be used for children when attended by a lay rescuer.

• For an adult victim, the 2 initial rescue breaths are omitted, with 30 compressions being given immediately after cardiac arrest is established.

Main changes in automated external defibrillation

• Public access defibrillation (PAD) programmes are recommended for locations where the expected use of an AED for witnessed cardiac arrest exceeds once in two years.

• A single defibrillatory shock (at least 150J biphasic or 360J monophasic)   is   delivered, immediately followed by two minutes of uninterrupted CPR, without a check for termination of VF or a check for signs of life or a pulse.

changes

Although Guidelines 2005 contain recommendations for changes in the sequence of shock delivery, there are no fundamental changes to the sequence of actions, since users should be taught to determine the need for an AED, switch on the machine, attach the electrodes, and follow the prompts.

The main guideline changes are:

• Place the axillary electrode pad vertically to improve efficiency.

• If possible, continue CPR whilst the pads are being applied.

• Program AEDs to deliver a single shock followed by a pause of 2 min for the immediate resumption of CPR (see adult ALS section).
  

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