ILCOR & ECC have issued new guidelines for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

The new guidelines recommend that chest compressions be the first step when reviving victims of SCA (sudden cardiac arrest.)

The old guidelines, implemented in 1966, and updated regularly since, recommended the "ABC's of CPR" Airway, Breathing, Circulation – which meant that rescue breathing, frequently referred to as "mouth-to-mouth," come first, then chest pumping.

"We have recognized 'Compression Only CPR' as a valid alternative for untrained rescuers for some time," states Gloria Bartlett of American CPR Training. "The bellows action of the chest compression can draw in oxygen rich ambient air, as well as possibly dislodging any foreign body airway obstruction."

International Standards for CPR have been graduating away from breaths and toward more compressions and advanced care since the turn of the century.

"Since joining American CPR in 1998, I have participated in CPR Standards changing several times," explains Bartlett, "It makes perfect sense – Since most Adult CPR is performed due to SCA, it is important to pump the heart for the victim, oxygenate with the average 21% oxygen rich ambient air and move toward advance care like the use of an AED. This is why the standards have changed toward more compressions with each CPR update, and why we at American CPR were the first to change from ABC CPR to ABCD CPR, including Defibrillation as a part of our bystander Adult, Child, & Infant CPR curriculum since 2000."

New CPR guidelines call for CAB CPR (Compression, Airway, Breathing,) instead of the long-time ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and have simplified by removing the "Look, Listen & Feel" step as well as recommending Compression Only CPR for rescuers not formally trained in full CPR Methods.

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