The main changes in the BLS guidelines have been made to reflect the importance placed on chest compression, particularly good quality compressions, and to attempt to reduce the number and duration of pauses in chest compression:
- When obtaining help, ask for an automated external defibrillator (AED), if one is available.
- Compress the chest to a depth of 5-6 cm and at a rate of 100-120 per min.
- Give each rescue breath over 1 second rather than 2.
- Do not stop to check the victim or discontinue CPR unless the victim starts to show signs of regaining consciousness, such as coughing, opening his eyes, speaking, or moving purposefully AND starts to breathe normally.
- In addition, advice has been added on the use of oxygen, and how to manage a victim who regurgitates stomach contents during resuscitation.
Further information can be found at www.Resus.org.uk