The 2025 AHA CPR & ECC Guidelines went live on Oct 22, 2025. Think of this release as a reset: the science moved, and the courses are moving with it. Your training calendar, competency tools, and posters should, too.
The Big Pivots
- One Chain of Survival, period—adult/peds, in- or out-of-hospital. One set of links, one vocabulary for teams and bystanders.
- Adult choking clarified: As per AHA 2025 guidelines, the cycle calls for 5 back blows + 5 abdominal thrusts, until relief or unresponsiveness. Update your visuals today.
- BLS shows naloxone explicitly in suspected opioid emergencies. The algorithm placement removes guesswork.
- Courseware refresh: According to the AHA 2025 guidelines, there are revised videos, algorithms, manuals, and assessments rolled out with the guidelines.
Disclaimer: This summary is based on the American Heart Association’s 2025 CPR & ECC Guidelines. For complete and official recommendations, please refer to the AHA at cpr.heart.org. Note that updates could evolve through AHA errata or subsequent clarification memos.
Source: American Heart Association, 2025 CPR & ECC Guidelines, released October 22, 2025. Available at cpr.heart.org.
CPR/BLS: Implications for Learners and Employers
Expect tighter graphics and sequencing; the fundamentals don’t change: compressions first, defib early, minimize pauses. If your site carries naloxone, build it into BLS refreshers and code carts so the step appears where learners expect it.
Practical takeaways
- Posters/cards: unified Chain, adult 5+5 choking, BLS with naloxone cue.
- Drills: practice recognition, AED on-scene time, and clean role calls.
ACLS: New Changes at a Glance
AHA’s 2025 guidance drives consistency across roles and timing. Expect clearer defib strategies, airway decisions, and drug sequencing—all mirrored in updated ACLS course assets. Translate that into your simulations and competency checks.
Quick wins
- Re-script megacodes to the 2025 flow; retire legacy cards.
- Align your checklists with the new assessment emphasis.
PALS: Pediatric Updates
Kids usually decompensate from breathing or shock before arrest. Training needs to find and treat that early, and move quickly to definitive care using pre-planned pathways.
Heartsaver: Fewer Steps, Less Hassle
The 2025 update trims noise for lay responders and workplace teams, fewer steps on paper, clearer pictures, better recall under pressure.
Bottom line
Standardize now. One chain, 5+5 choking, naloxone in BLS, refreshed courseware. The faster you align training and tools, the fewer surprises in real arrests.
Disclaimer: This summary is provided for educational purposes and reflects highlights from the American Heart Association’s 2025 CPR & ECC Guidelines (released October 22, 2025). For complete and official recommendations, visit cpr.heart.org. [AHCA ] is an independent training provider and not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Heart Association.
