Basic Life Support
Developed over a four-year period, the Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025 incorporate the latest international evidence. They are based on the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2025 Consensus on Science and align with the recommendations set out in the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) Guidelines 2025.
First Aid
A new section on the science-based advice on First Aid for life-threatening emergencies. It specifically covers conditions that could lead to cardiac arrest if untreated, as well as time-critical situations where immediate action is essential to significantly reduce injury and suffering.
Andy Sullivan – CEO
We must champion the Resuscitation Council (UK) 2025 guidelines. Their foundation in sound science is the reason they are so effective at boosting survival rates. Furthermore, these guidelines pivot toward proactive measures, demonstrating a commitment to the philosophy that prevention is always better than treatment.
BREAKDOWN OF THE CHANGES
Adult basic life support 2025 Guidelines
The 2025 Adult Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines have been updated with key changes focused on speeding up the initial response:
- Call 999 Immediately:
For any unresponsive person, rescuers must call 999 first. You no longer need to confirm abnormal breathing before initiating the emergency call. The breathing assessment should be done while waiting for the call to connect.
- Call Handler Support: The guidelines highlight the critical role of the ambulance service call handler in the early recognition of cardiac arrest and the initiation of CPR, including assistance with identifying abnormal breathing.
- Recognising Athlete Cardiac Arrest: The guidance now acknowledges that in cases of exercise-induced cardiac arrest, athletes may initially show a near-normal or panting breathing pattern, which differs from the slow, laboured breathing previously emphasised in the 2021 guidelines.
- Support for Rescuers: The guidelines recognise that attempting resuscitation can be a traumatic experience. Lay rescuers and bystanders may benefit from support after the event.
Three Steps to Save a Life: Responding to Unresponsiveness.
1. Check Safety & Consciousness:
- Is it safe to approach the person?
- Are they conscious (do they respond to you)?
2. Call 999 Immediately:
- If they are unresponsive, call 999 straight away.
- While on the call, assess their breathing. If you are unsure about whether the breathing is normal, the ambulance call handler will assist you.
3. CPR and Use AED:
- Start CPR immediately if they are unresponsive and their breathing is abnormal.
- As soon as an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) arrives, attach it and follow its instructions.
- Remember, the call handler can also provide guidance on using the AED.
Paediatric basic life support 2025 Guidelines
Guidelines 2025 continues to prioritise supporting members of our communities to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to act when someone sustains an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The principles of CPR remain the same, and there is an increased emphasis on the difficulty in recognising cardiac arrest and the role that the ambulance service call handlers can play in facilitating this.
First Aid 2025 Guidelines
Guidelines 2025 continues to prioritise supporting members of our communities to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to act when someone sustains an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The principles of CPR remain the same, and there is an increased emphasis on the difficulty in recognising cardiac arrest and the role that the ambulance service call handlers can play in facilitating this.
Education 2025 Guidelines
Guidelines 2025 continues to prioritise supporting members of our communities to have the confidence, knowledge and skills to act when someone sustains an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The principles of CPR remain the same, and there is an increased emphasis on the difficulty in recognising cardiac arrest and the role that the ambulance service call handlers can play in facilitating this.
Resus council First Aid Guidelines
Resuscitaion Guidelines Process
Link to the to the full guidelines
Epidemiology of cardiac arrest
Resus Council Education Guidelines
Resus council Ethics Guidelines