New CPR Guidelines Have Been Published

Hopefully your workplace has someone trained in delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a fallen co-worker. But that doesn't mean they are aware of the latest recommendations on how that procedure should be done and some significant changes have been made.

The American Heart Association has issued new guidelines for performing CPR on victims of cardiac arrest. The 2005 guidelines recommend that you double the number of chest compressions to 30 for every two rescue breaths. In 2002, the old recommendation called for 15 compressions for every two rescue breaths.

Studies have shown that increasing the number of chest compressions improves blood flow through the non-beating heart, which can buy time for the victim until paramedics arrive.

There are many other new guidelines of equal importance, to review more information on all of these new guidelines click here.