EMBARGOED UNTIL
12:01 am CST/1:01 am ET, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015
2015 AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC
Guidelines
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Since first establishing guidelines in 1966, the American Heart Association has led evaluation and
dissemination of the latest resuscitation science to help inform and modernize the lifesaving practice of
CPR. These guidelines have been used to train millions in CPR, basic and advanced cardiovascular
care, and first aid around the world.
The guidelines are based on an international evaluation process that involved hundreds of resuscitation
scientists and experts worldwide who evaluated thousands of peer-reviewed publications.
The 2015 update provides recommendations on high-priority resuscitation topics where there is
sufficient new evidence or controversy requiring a systematic review.
2015 Update
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The 2015 guidelines validate what we already know about performing CPR and offer a scientific basis
for optimizing CPR quality to save more lives.
The guidelines recommend more training to develop better systems of care. Everyone from bystanders
to advanced healthcare providers should know what to do at every step of a cardiovascular emergency.
History of CPR
 In 1960, researchers combined breaths and compressions to create CPR as we know it today.
 CPR training has been recommended for healthcare professionals and for the general public for more
than 50 years.
Cardiac Arrest
 Over 326,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and 209,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually.
Despite advances in resuscitation science, survival rates are only about 10 percent.
 Cardiac arrest is caused when the heart suddenly stops, usually due to an electrical malfunction in the
heart that causes an irregular heartbeat and disrupts blood flow through the body.
 Survival from both in-hospital cardiac arrest and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests has increased over the
past decade, but there is still tremendous potential for improvement.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
 Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s
chance of survival.
 Seventy percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes and residential settings.
 AHA has been a leader in resuscitation science and innovation for over 50 years, training over 17
million people per year in CPR, first aid and advanced cardiovascular care around the world through its
programs and awareness campaigns.