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The European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2005 were published on 28 November 2005 in the Journal RESUSCITATION (Vol 67 Supplement 1) and on the ERC website (www.erc.edu). The Guidelines are based on new scientific evidence regarding many aspects of resuscitation, including basic life support, the use of automated external defibrillators, and advanced life support for adults and children. Several of the treatment recommendations in the Guidelines represent significant changes in the way resuscitation is delivered. The European Resuscitation Council recommends the early implementation of the new Guidelines. As the transition is made, however, there will inevitably be some variation in practice between individuals and between healthcare organisations. Reprogramming of automated external defibrillators and retraining of both laypeople and healthcare professionals will take time. Automated external defibrillators set to comply with the pre-2005 Guidelines should continue to be used according to their preset voice prompts until they have been modified to conform to the new recommendations. The European Resuscitation Council emphasises that, until the transition has been achieved on all levels, current practice should not be considered either unsafe or ineffective. |
