The latest update has arrived: 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). Here are the main clinical care changes:

  • Increase layperson-provided CPR; children as young as 12 years can learn BLS and defibrillation
  • For pediatrics, conventional CPR (with breaths) > compressions-only CPR > no CPR
  • No longer recommend 2-finger method of compressions for infants (use 2 thumbs or 1 hand method)
  • BLS for choking: 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts for children and adults; 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts for infants
  • Administer epinephrine as early as possible for cardiac arrest
  • ETCO2 should not be used to make decisions about ending resuscitation in children
  • For pediatric SVT with hemodynamic compromise unresponsive to vagal maneuvers, adenosine, cardioversion, consider: procainamide, amiodarone, or sotalol
  • NALS: delay cord clamping at least 60 seconds in newly born not requiring immediate resuscitation (increased from 30 seconds)
  • NALS ventilation of newly born: 20-30 cm H20 peak pressure initially, 30-60 per minute rate