Guidelines Resources Archives

2019 Resuscitation Guidelines Focused Update

On Thursday, November 14, 2019 the AHA, in cooperation with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), released the 2019 Focused Updates on Systems of Care and Continuous Quality Improvement, Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support, and Neonatal Resuscitation (2019 Focused Updates).

The 2019 Focused Updates continue to support our continuous evidence evaluation process and more frequent focused updates. Continuous evidence evaluation allows the rigor of a comprehensive review and expert consensus in as close to real time as possible. Prior to 2017, the official AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC had been updated every five years.

Highlights of the 2019 Focused Updates include the following:

  • Dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) for adults and pediatric patients
  • Potential role of cardiac arrest centers (CACs)
  • Use of advanced airways during CPR
  • Use of vasopressors during CPR
  • Extracorporeal CPR for adults
  • Use of advanced airways during pediatric resuscitation
  • Targeted temperature management
  • Administration of oxygen to initiate ventilation support for term, near-term and preterm newborns
  • Treatment of presyncope
For the 2019 Focused Updates, there will be no changes to products and no new materials are required. To view the complete 2019 Focused Updates and the highlights of the 2019 Focused Updates, please visit the ECC Guidelines website.

2018 Resuscitation Guidelines Focused Update

The AHA released the 2018 Focused Updates to the 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC on Monday, November 5, 2018. View the 2018 AHA Focused Updates on Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support at the AHA’s ECC Guidelines website.

In addition to science and algorithm language updates, this release continues a move by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and the AHA to a continuous evidence evaluation process and more frequent focused updates.

For these 2018 Focused Updates, there will be no changes to AHA products and no new materials are required. However, the AHA has provided guidance to the AHA Training Network specific to training ACLS and PALS: 2018 Focused Updates: Implications for Training ACLS and PALS Providers (PDF).

View the 2018 Focused Updates FAQ (PDF).

View the Highlights of the 2018 Focused Updates to the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

International users also may view translated FAQs and other materials at cprverify.org.

2017 Resuscitation Guidelines Focused Update

The AHA released the 2017 Focused Updates to the 2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. View the 2017 AHA Focused Updates on Adult and Pediatric Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality at the AHA’s ECC Guidelines website.

In addition to science updates, this release represents a move by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and the AHA to a continuous evidence evaluation process and more frequent focused updates.

For these 2017 Focused Updates, there will be no changes to AHA courses and no new materials are required. However, the AHA has provided guidance to the AHA Training Network specific to training EMS providers: 2017 Adult BLS Focused Update: Implications for Training EMS Providers (PDF) UPDATED 12-26-17

View the 2017 Focused Updates Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF) UPDATED 12-26-17.

View the Highlights of the 2017 American Heart Association Focused Updates on Adult and Pediatric Basic Life Support and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality. (PDF) UPDATED 12-26-17

Change Notice: 2017 Guidelines Highlights Change Notice December 2017 (PDF)

2015 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC

The 2015 Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC was published on October 15, 2015, in the journal Circulation. To access the 2015 Guidelines, our integrated Guidelines Website and more, visit 2015eccguidelines.heart.org.

AHA Education Statement on Best Practices in Resuscitation Training

On June 21, the AHA published Resuscitation Education Science: Educational Strategies to Improve Outcomes from Cardiac Arrest in the journal Circulation. This statement examines best practices in education and applies them to resuscitation, addressing gaps in training that lead to poor survival rates for cardiac arrest victims. If all training programs and resuscitation Instructors implement the guidance in this resource document, it will help raise the standard of care and increase survival from cardiac arrest.

At this time, there will be no changes to AHA products and no new materials are required. We will continue to evolve and improve our products, courses and services as we move forward.

For more information about the AHA’s Education Statement, please visit Heart.org/EducationStatement. This site includes the link to the full statement in Circulation, the Highlights of the Education Statement document, FAQs, and more.

AHA & ILCOR Celebrate 25 Years

As a founding member council, the AHA celebrates more than 25 years of dedication to the mission we share with ILCOR (International Liaison Council on Resuscitation). The AHA and ILCOR are committed to Continuous Evidence Evaluation; currently, the AHA is the only member council producing an annual Focused Guidelines Update to ensure the most current practices in resuscitation.

Learn more about the AHA, ILCOR, and our joint commitment to Continuous Evidence Evaluation (PDF)