The American Red Cross recently released the first of our health and safety training programs that incorporate the latest scientific guidelines for first aid, CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. These guidelines are re-evaluated every five years by dozens of international organizations and experts, including the Red Cross, to determine if any new discoveries affect the way first aid and CPR are delivered. This collaborative effort involves hundreds of scientific studies, research articles and other scientific evidence.
A summary of the differences between the old and new lay responder First aid/CPR/AED program guidelines is presented in the table below.
SKILLS | OLD | NEW
|
Conscious Choking | Adult/Child—Abdominal thrusts | Adult/Child—5 back blows then 5 abdominal thrusts
|
Unconscious Choking | Adult—Modified CPR: 15 chest compressions, look for object, 2 rescue breaths
Child/Infant—Modified CPR: 5 chest compressions, look for object, 2 rescue breaths | Adult/Child/Infant—Modified CPR: 30 chest compressions, look for object, 2 rescue breaths
|
CPR—Rescue Breaths | Adult—Deep breath at 2 seconds/breath
Child/Infant—Deep breath at 1 ˝ seconds/breath
| Adult/Child/Infant—Normal breath given over 1 second and until chest rises
|
CPR—Chest Compression to Ventilation Ratio
(Single Rescuer) | Adult—15:2
Child—5:1
Infant—5:1
| Adult/Child/Infant—30:2
|
Chest Compression Rate | Adult/Child—About 100/minute
Infant—At least 120/minute
| Adult/Child/Infant—About 100/minute
|
CPR—Chest Compression Landmarking Method | Adult/Child—Trace up the ribs
Infant—1 finger width below nipple line at center of chest | Adult/Child—Simplified approach—2 hands, center of chest
Infant—2 or 3 fingers, just below nipple line at center of chest
|
AED | Up to 3 shocks, with 1 minute of CPR between shocks | 1 shock, then 2 minutes (5 cycles) of CPR
|
Anaphylaxis | — | Assist with use of prescribed auto-injector
|
Asthma | — | Assist with use of prescribed inhaler
|
Health and safety training protects your employees and your bottom line. For information about American Red Cross first aid/CPR/AED programs, contact your local chapter, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-667-2968.
