What’s New in the 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines

The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has released its 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, introducing major updates based on the latest scientific evidence. These changes affect first aiders, CPR trainers, and anyone interested in life‑saving skills.

At ProTrainings UK, we’re preparing to update our courses early January to ensure full compliance. Here’s a clear overview of the changes and what they mean for you.

1. First Aid Now Gets Its Own Chapter

For the first time, first aid is officially part of the guidelines rather than a side-note.

First aiders are clearly defined: your role begins with assessing the scene, calling 999, and acting safely within your training level.
A structured approach using ABCDE is recommended:
- A: Airway
- B: Breathing
- C: Circulation
- D: Disability (level of consciousness)
- E: Exposure (check for hidden injuries)

The guidelines also cover severe bleeding, choking, anaphylaxis, stroke, overdose, trauma, and environmental emergencies such as heatstroke or hypothermia.

Importantly, training should be accessible, culturally appropriate, and adaptable to different settings, including rural or low-resource areas.

2. Updated Airway Management

For trauma or suspected spinal injury, the new guidance now explicitly allows the jaw-thrust manoeuvre while keeping the neck neutral.

In newborn resuscitation, a two-person jaw-thrust is recommended when possible, as it’s more effective.

For instructors and learners, Practi-Man manikins are ideal for practising these updated airway techniques safely and realistically.

Oxygen use is clarified: trained responders should provide oxygen for serious breathing difficulties and titrate using a pulse oximeter when available.

3. Bystander and Public Resuscitation Education

The guidelines now recommend starting resuscitation education early, from ages 4–6 in schools.

Training should be interactive and modern, using gamification, simulations, and feedback devices.

Telephone-assisted CPR is highlighted. 999 call-handlers are expected to recognise cardiac arrest and guide callers effectively.

4. Paediatric Resuscitation

Structured assessment using ABCDE is emphasised for children to spot life-threatening issues early.

Paediatric CPR guidance now clarifies rescue breath ratios: in some trained settings, give five initial rescue breaths before chest compressions (15:2 ratio).

Special circumstances like drowning, trauma, or asthma are more deeply covered.

5. Post-Resuscitation Care

After return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the guidelines recommend a structured “AB-C” approach:

Airway protection
Blood pressure and oxygen control

Keep systolic blood pressure above 100 mmHg (or MAP 60–65 mmHg) and avoid fever (≤ 37.5°C) for 36–72 hours in comatose patients.

Neurological recovery should be assessed 72 hours after ROSC using EEG, imaging, and biomarkers. Psychological support for survivors and families is also emphasised.

6. Newborn Resuscitation

Two-person jaw-thrust is recommended where sufficient trained personnel are available.
Start positive pressure ventilation (PPV) quickly if a newborn isn’t breathing.
Use an oxygen blender where possible for safe delivery.

Practi-Man manikins allow instructors to practise these updated newborn airway techniques safely, in line with the 2025 guidelines.

7. Ethics, Systems, and Recovery

The 2025 Guidelines emphasise:

Ethical decision-making: patient-centred care, family involvement, and advance care planning.
System improvements: public access defibrillators (PADs), national CPR education, and structured support for cardiac arrest survivors.

Training providers are expected to update courses to reflect these changes by January 2026.

What This Means for ProTrainings UK

Our courses will be fully 2025-compliant early January, so all first aid, CPR, and trauma programmes follow current best practice.

Realistic manikins, like the Practi-Man range, are essential for practising jaw-thrust and other updated airway techniques.
Every role matters — from bystanders to healthcare professionals — each link in the chain of survival counts.

Explore our updated courses today and be ready for the latest guidance.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 RCUK Guidelines are a major step forward for resuscitation and first aid in the UK. Clearer structures, evidence-based updates, and inclusive training guidance ensure first aiders are better prepared — and that can make all the difference.