First Aid and CPR
CPR guidelines are regularly updated to reflect current research.
In the UK, the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) publishes new recommendations aimed at boosting cardiac arrest survival rates and making CPR easier for everyone.
The major change amongst others are the re-introduction of rescue breaths, we all remember the Vinnie jones advert about no mouth to mouth, that has now changed to rescue breathes 30:2.
Also the placement of where the pads are positioned on the chest have also changed to under the armpit.
Adult CPR, the standard ratio is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths (30:2). This cycle should be continued, ideally swapping rescuers every 1–2 minutes to avoid exhaustion, while ensuring each breath makes the chest rise.
If untrained, perform continuous “hands-only”
These changes to CPR in the UK aim to improve public response and survival rates for cardiac arrest.
By simplifying instructions, encouraging hands-only CPR, and promoting the use of AEDs, the Resuscitation Council UK hopes to make life-saving interventions more accessible to everyone.
Other major Changes to First Aid Practise can be seen here at Resus Guidelines 2025
These updates reflect a continued focus on public accessibility, technology integration, and faster response to life-threatening emergencies in the UK.
Any first aid training will have to adhere to these changes beginning in April 2026.
Accordingly, all our First Aid training courses were updated to these and since November 2025 Vital Workplace Training have been training with these changes already implemented in all our First Aid courses.
If you require a first aid training course—whether it is Emergency First Aid at Work or general First Aid—please contact us to arrange your booking, email us or check out our website. We look forward to welcoming you soon.