New standards for cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Represent a milestone in resuscitation practice and training

A joint statement, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation—Standards for Clinical Practice and Training, has been issued by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Physicians of London, the Intensive Care Society, and the Resuscitation Council (UK).1 This was endorsed by a further nine healthcare organisations including the National Patient Safety Agency and defines minimum standards for the delivery of resuscitation related services in healthcare institutions. Perhaps the only major omissions from this list are the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Obstetricians. This is surprising given that most cardiac arrests occur out of hospital and that cardiac arrest of mothers has a potentially catastrophic outcome. However, the endorsement of these guidelines by so many national professional organisations is a milestone, and their implementation marks an advance in resuscitation practice and patient safety.

Since the first major report from the United Kingdom on resuscitation was introduced in 1987, considerable changes have taken place in the science and practice of resuscitation.2 These include founding of the United Kingdom and European resuscitation councils, development of evidence based clinical guidelines, the introduction of resuscitation related courses, and the establishment of resuscitation officers as an …