'Hands Only' CPR

A statement was issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) on 31/03/2008, recommending that bystanders who witness the sudden collapse of an adult should give chest compressions without ventilations, also known as ‘hands-only’ CPR.

First Graide UK delivers its First Aid courses following the guidelines issued by both the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and UK Resuscitation Council and therefore, as the statement below from the ERC confirms, will not be changing the protocols currently taught.

The following statement from the ERC confirms that no changes will take place for the time being.

ERC Statement (Overview):

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) has reviewed the studies published since its current guidelines were introduced in 2005, and has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to make any changes at this time. The Council has, therefore, issued a statement confirming its advice that CPR should consist of alternating 30 chest compressions, of adequate force and depth, at a rate of 100/minute, with 2 mouth-to-mouth ventilations. The rescuer(s) should ensure that ventilations cause minimal interruption of chest compressions. For those rescuers who are unwilling or unable to give mouth-to-mouth ventilations, chest compression-only is much more acceptable than performing no CPR at all. 



The ERC statement:


http://www.erc.edu/index.php/docLibrary/en/viewDoc/775/3/