Medical and safety experts took to the stage at the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) Technical Conference yesterday (12 February 2026), delivering expert‑led sessions and leading industry discussion for an audience of over 400 leisure sector and first aid training professionals.

Delegates from across the UK and Ireland, as well as elsewhere in the world, gathered at the Coventry Building Society Arena to hear from respected clinicians and safety specialists, gaining insights into the latest developments in CPR, First Aid, and water safety.

The agenda for the day centred on the new CPR and First Aid guidelines from the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK). Speakers explored the evidence base behind the updates and the technical understanding of the changes, while RLSS UK’s Commercial Director, Jo Talbot, outlined what the changes mean for RLSS UK qualifications and training delivery.

Alongside the guideline‑focused sessions, the programme also covered a wide range of topics, including managing catastrophic bleeds, the dangers of Shallow Water Blackouts, the latest thinking in swimming pool supervision and operational safety, and financial strategies to support leisure operators. Delegates also made the most of networking opportunities and met exhibitors showcasing products and innovations supporting the sector.

RLSS UK’s CEO Simmy Akhtar said: “It was an honour to host such an engaging event. Bringing together a high calibre of speakers and practitioners ensures our industry continues to learn and move forward with confidence. The insights shared today will help shape how we train, respond, and keep people safe in the years ahead. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a collaborative day.”

Ryan Tribe, Duty Manager at Active Lifestyles Dursley, described the event as “insightful, educational and welcoming.”

Shelley Mott from Wild Dog Fitness said she was impressed by how engaging and informative all the speakers were, adding, “The sausage rolls were amazing!”

Hannah Smith from Serco Leisure said: “It was great to hear first‑hand why the CPR and First Aid changes have been made, so we can feed that back to our lifeguards. It was a really inspirational day.”

Expert speakers and topics included:

• Isabelle Hamilton‑Bower and Naomi Reeves, Clinical Leads from RCUK, discussed the journey to publication and the development of the guidelines. As well as an in-depth understanding of why and how an AED can save someone’s life.
  
  
• Jessica Rogers, Emergency Medicine Resident and author in both the RCUK and ERC Guidelines 2025, provided a detailed look at the evidence shaping modern First Aid and Basic Life Support guideline changes.
  
  
• Martin Horton, Consultant Advanced Clinical Practitioner explored techniques for managing life‑threatening bleeds and demonstrated practical, evidence‑based approaches for rapid bleed control.
  
  
• Simon Dunn MBE, British Heart Foundation, provided insight into the importance of the chain of survival, how it can be strengthened, and the role communities can play in saving more lives.
  
  
• Professor Andrew H Baker, British Heart Foundation Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Professor of Vascular Biology, provided a compelling account of his son’s near-fatal experience when swimming while on holiday, and was joined on stage by his daughter, Resident Doctor and CPR campaigner Serena Baker.

The exhibition area remained busy throughout the day, with 28 exhibition stands by suppliers, RLSS UK Water Safety Partners, and technology specialists engaging with delegates on emerging trends and practical solutions.

Sarah Hampson, Global Marketing Manager at Ruth Lee, said: “The event was really valuable for learning more about the industry. We met some really interesting people and gained insight into the challenges lifeguards face in their everyday training, which is incredibly useful for developing new products in the future.”

The conference closed with delegates leaving equipped with updated knowledge, renewed connections, and a clear understanding of how the latest guidance will shape the future of CPR and first aid training to help save lives.

For further information, contact the RLSS UK events team at [email protected].