Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

During core medical training, trainees should acquire sufficient knowledge and skills, and demonstrate appropriate attitudes and behaviours, to allow the competent assessment and resuscitation of patients who have suffered cardio-respiratory arrest within or outside hospital. The Resuscitation Council (UK) defines these attributes in its Resuscitation Guidelines of 2010. These revised guidelines took account of new evidence from clinical trials of cardiac arrest management. They emphasize the early provision of effective continuous chest compressions (‘push fast, firmly and immediately’) with minimal interruptions for defibrillation. Their advice to provide therapeutic cooling after initial recovery of circulation has recently been called into question.