European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025 First Aid

The European Resuscitation Council has produced these First Aid Guidelines based on the 2025 International Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations on First Aid of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), reviews of the expert group composed to write these recommendations, and available selected peer-reviewed literature after discussion and agreement within this experts' group. General topics include expectations of a first aid provider, first aid courses, contents of a first aid kit, how to approach a person with impaired responsiveness, recovery position, use of a pulse oximeter and administration of oxygen. Medical emergencies include anaphylaxis, choking, asthma, chest pain, hypoglycaemia, opioid overdose, recognition of stroke, and suicidal thoughts. Trauma-related emergencies include cervical spinal motion restriction, control of life-threatening bleeding, management of open chest wounds, concussion and preservation of an amputated body part. Environmental emergencies include drowning, hypothermia, hyperthermia and snake bite. First aid procedures for the prevention and management of life-threatening conditions that could progress to cardiac arrest, have been included. The management of cardiac arrest is described in the 2025 ERC Guidelines Basic Life Support.

Published by Resuscitation, 2025. The guideline itself is at the source linked here.

doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2025.110752