On October 22, 2025, the American Heart Association published the 2025 Guidelines for CPR & ECC.
As the global source of the official resuscitation science and education guidelines used by training organizations and healthcare professionals, the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC deliver the latest resuscitation science education available to ensure the highest quality of care of improved outcomes.
As part of our ongoing commitment to support high‑quality resuscitation education, Laerdal is highlighting several key updates introduced in the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. These updates reflect important changes related to choking, opioid overdose, cardiac arrest response, and more.
Revised choking relief techniques for conscious adults and children, now recommending a sequence of five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts, continuing until the obstruction is cleared or the person becomes unresponsive.
Updated infant choking guidance, directing responders to alternate five back blows with five chest thrusts using the heel of one hand until the airway is cleared or the infant becomes unresponsive.
New recommendations for responding to suspected opioid overdose, including updated public guidance on access and appropriate use of naloxone.
A return to a single Chain of Survival applicable across all settings and ages—whether adult or pediatric, and whether the emergency occurs in hospital or out of hospital.
Evidence confirming that children 12 years and older can learn and perform effective CPR and use an AED, reinforcing the importance of CPR education in schools and communities.
Guidance to strengthen community response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, emphasizing the role of media outreach, instructor-led training, and broader community education.
As guidelines evolve, our commitment remains the same: to ensure that learners and instructors are equipped with high‑quality, evidence‑aligned training tools. Laerdal’s BLS and CPR training solutions—including our manikins, feedback devices, and digital learning platforms—are designed to help organizations integrate these updated practices effectively and confidently.
