AHA, Red Cross introduce updated first aid guidelines

The American Heart Association and American Red Cross updated their guidelines for first aid. The updates mark the first major revision to the guidelines since 2010.

In the guidelines, published in Circulation, investigators provided 179 recommendations covering medical, traumatic, environmental and toxicological emergencies.

The new recommendations included the removal of rigid cervical collars and spine boards from routine first aid practice; immediate cooling of thermal burns with clean running water; opioid overdose response with naloxone administration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; bleeding control with direct pressure over pressure points; and chemical exposure protocols such as eye irrigation procedures. Other topics addressed were: hypothermia, frostbite, heat-related conditions and rapid decontamination for chemical exposures.

The investigators recognized knowledge gaps and the need for research on the integration of technology and first aid.

Read more: Circulation

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