Published 1 March 2016

In October 2015 the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) published Guidelines for resuscitation and First Aid. The Resuscitation Council (UK) guidelines have been adapted from the 2015 ERC Guidelines and are tailored specifically to clinical practice in the UK.

The new guidelines are the result of many years of international collaboration to improve the practice and teaching of resuscitation medicine in order to improve survival from cardiorespiratory arrest.

Recent international data suggests that survival rates after both in, and out of, hospital cardiac arrests are slowly improving. The Resuscitation Council (UK) hopes that refinements in resuscitation guidelines will continue to contribute to increasing survival rates.

The teams at RLSS UK and IQL UK have worked hard since the guidelines were published to provide an update for our Trainers and Instructors. Over 150 RLSS UK and IQL UK awards, qualifications, and teaching resources have now been updated to include the latest guidance on resuscitation and First Aid. The process RLSS UK and IQL UK have been through to complete the CPR and First Aid 2016 update for our customers is detailed below:

October 2015:

• CPR and First Aid Guidelines published October 2015

November – December 2015:

• Consulted with CPR and Medical experts

December 2015:

• Agreed changes to RLSS UK and IQL UK publications

November – December 2015:

• Filmed and photographed changes to skills within qualifications and awards

January – February 2016:

• Created changes to publication with designers

January – February 2016: 

• Created changes to all Trainer/Instructor resources for each publication

February 29 2016:

• NOW Launch of Trainer/Instructor online update

RLSS UK/IQL UK Trainers and Instructors should have now received an email from RLSS UK inviting them to log in online and complete their CPR and First Aid Update 2016. Any Trainers or Instructors who have not received their invitation by 4 March 2016, please email [email protected].

It has been brought to our attention that some of our Trainers and Instructors have received multiple e-mails for the update. We apologise for this, please use one of the e-mails you have received and click the link in the e-mail to complete the update.

For those holding current RLSS UK or IQL UK awards and qualifications, the skills you have been taught are still safe and effective and should be used. Changes to CPR and First Aid will be taught on future courses.