{"id":3503,"date":"2025-10-25T09:15:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T09:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kingsm3n.com\/?p=3503"},"modified":"2025-10-25T09:15:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T09:15:28","slug":"what-would-you-do-in-case-of-cardiac-arrest-chest-compressions-only-or-also-rescue-breaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingsm3n.com\/en\/insights-inspiration-en\/what-would-you-do-in-case-of-cardiac-arrest-chest-compressions-only-or-also-rescue-breaths\/","title":{"rendered":"What would you do in case of cardiac arrest: chest compressions only, or also rescue breaths?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The new European Resuscitation Council (ERC) 2025 guidelines are clear: providing ventilation significantly increases survival chances.<\/em><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When every second counts, hesitation is the real enemy.<\/p>\n

The new European Resuscitation Guidelines (ERC 2025)<\/a><\/strong> bring clarity to a long-debated question among first aiders in training: should you give rescue breaths, or are chest compressions alone enough?<\/em>
The essence remains unchanged \u2014 do something, and do it immediately<\/strong> \u2014 but science confirms that the right combination of compressions and ventilation can mean the difference between life and death<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What\u2019s new in the ERC 2025 guidelines?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC<\/a><\/strong>) has updated its Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines in 2025.
While the fundamental principles remain the same, several key points have been refined and emphasized:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Start faster, hesitate less.<\/strong>
Every second counts. The ERC reinforces that anyone \u2014 even without medical training \u2014 can save a life. The message is clearer than ever: start chest compressions as soon as the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chest compressions remain the cornerstone of an effectice CPR<\/strong>
The quality of compressions directly determines survival chances.
The rate remains 100\u2013120 per minute, with a depth of 5\u20136 cm, and full chest recoil after each compression.
The ERC again stresses minimal interruptions<\/strong> \u2014 consistency matters more than perfection.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Easier use of AEDs<\/strong>.
The new guidelines highlight even faster access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) \u2014 ideally within 2\u20133 minutes of cardiac arrest.
AEDs are becoming simpler to use, and the ERC encourages workplaces and public spaces to improve accessibility.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ventilation: still essential for maximum survival.
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Although some people still question whether mouth-to-mouth ventilation is necessary or \u201csafe,\u201d the ERC states unequivocally: ventilation saves lives<\/strong>.
Oxygen delivery remains crucial to prevent brain damage.
Anyone trained in CPR should perform 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Only when ventilation is impossible or unsafe (for example, without a mask or in high infection-risk settings) should you continue with compressions only.
But scientific consensus is clear<\/strong>: when performed correctly, adding breaths significantly increases survival<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What remains essential?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A simple, powerful message runs through all the new guidelines: resuscitation works \u2014
but only if we act.<\/strong><\/p>\n