2015 Resuscitation Guidelines

Resuscitation Council UK’s guidelines guarantee that health and care professionals across the UK share the same knowledge base surrounding teamwork and practice.

The guidelines contain detailed information about basic and advanced life support for adults, paediatrics and newborns, as well as information on the use of Automated External Defibrillators and other topics.

The most recent set of RCUK guidelines were released in 2015. They were adapted from the 2015 ERC guidelines, and tailored to clinical practice in the UK.

We will be publishing our updated Guidelines on 5 May 2021. Until then, please continue using the 2015 Guidelines.

NICE has accredited the process used by Resuscitation Council UK to produce its Guidelines development Process Manual. Accreditation is valid for 5 years from March 2015. More information on accreditation can be viewed at https://www.nice.org.uk/about/what-we-do/accreditation

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Introduction

A look at how the 2015 guidelines were developed, including details of key changes, essential references and a list of abbreviations used.

Adult basic life support and automated external defibrillation

Examining the impact of quick action from bystanders and first responders, and guidance on how CPR training and AED awareness can be implemented and delivered in the community.

Video Link

Adult BLS and AEDs - Professor Gavin Perkins

Materials

Adult BLS Algorithm (A4 poster)43.42 KB

Adult BLS Algorithm (A3 poster)58.53 KB

Adult Choking Algorithm (A4 poster)40.61 KB

Adult Choking Algorithm (A3 poster)55.41 KB

Adult advanced life support

Guidelines for treating adults who require advanced life support, including treatment interventions, reversible causes and decision-making.

Video Link

Adult ALS - Dr Jasmeet Soar

Materials

Adult ALS Algorithm (A4 poster)223.7 KB

Adult ALS Algorithm (A3 poster)245.41 KB

Paediatric basic life support

Guidelines for healthcare professionals and the general public on giving CPR to a child in cardiac arrest.

Video Link

Paediatric ALS and BLS - Dr Ian Maconochie

Materials

Paediatric BLS Algorithm (A4 poster)137.67 KB

Paediatric BLS Algorithm (A3 poster)162.4 KB

Paediatric Choking Algorithm (A4 poster)40.61 KB

Paediatric Choking Algorithm (A3 poster)59.8 KB

Paediatric advanced life support

Guidelines for treating children who require advanced life support, including treatment interventions, reversible causes and decision making.

Video Link

Paediatric ALS and BLS - Dr Ian Maconochie

Materials

Paediatric ALS Algorithm (A4 poster)84.73 KB

Paediatric ALS Algorithm (A3 poster)106.05 KB

Resuscitation and support of transition of babies at birth

Guidelines for supporting the transition of babies at birth and treating those requiring life support.

Video Link

Resuscitation and support of transition of babies at birth - Professor Jonathan…

Materials

NLS Algorithm: A4 Poster124.24 KB

Prehospital resuscitation

Best-practice advice on how to manage a patient before they reach hospital, with specific guidance on a range of circumstances.

Video Link

Prehospital resuscitation - Professor Charles Deakin

Materials

Traumatic Cardiac Arrest Treatment Algorithm128.54 KB

In-hospital resuscitation

Guidelines on how to manage cardiac arrest in an in-hospital setting.

Video Link

In-hospital resuscitation - Dr Carl Gwinnutt

Materials

In-hospital resuscitation algorithm (A4 Poster)55.85 KB

Post-resuscitation care

Specific guidelines on outcomes, complications, interventions and the management of patients post-cardiac arrest.

Video Link

Post-resuscitation care - Professor Jerry Nolan

Materials

Post-resuscitation care algorithm (A4 poster)139.65 KB

Prognostication algorithm (A4 poster)154.85 KB

Prevention of cardiac arrest and decisions about CPR

A detailed review of the importance of recognition and prevention of cardiac arrest, including strategies for prevention and decision making.

Video Link

Prevention of cardiac arrest and decisions about CPR - Dr David Pitcher

Peri-arrest arrhythmias

Guidelines for the identification and treatment of per-arrest arrhythmias for the non-specialist practitioner

Video Link

Peri-arrest arrhythmias - Dr David Pitcher

Materials

Adult Tachycardia Algorithm (PDF)68.16 KB

Adult Bradycardia Algorithm (PDF)65.47 KB

Education and implementation of resuscitation

Guidelines for achieving a gold-standard level of education in resuscitation practice across all sectors.

Video Link

Education and implementation of resuscitation - Dr Andy Lockey

Accreditation of the 2015 Guidelines

In March 2015 Resuscitation Council UK received NICE Accreditation for the process used to assemble and produce all its guideline documents. These Resuscitation Guidelines have been developed as documented in the Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines Development Process Manual (2014). Accreditation is valid for five years from March 2015.

The NICE Accreditation Scheme recognises organisations that demonstrate high standards in producing health or social care guidance. Users of NICE-accredited guidance can therefore have high confidence in the quality of the information provided. The NICE Accreditation was based on the procedures and methodology used in the development of the 2010 Resuscitation Guidelines, as documented in the Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines Development Process Manual (2012).

NICE manages the NHS Evidence service, which provides access to authoritative clinical and non-clinical evidence and best practice through a web-based portal.