The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) announced updated guidelines for paediatric basic life support in 2021. These updated guidelines only apply to persons who have received specific training and do not apply to EFR® courses and the information provided to EFR students. The information generally applies to healthcare workers and childcare providers, etc., with a specific duty of care to pediatrics.

For the lay responder wanting to learn the basic life support for children, the goal is to keep it simple and not overcomplicate what you teach, with the hope that your students will remember the basics they need and feel confident to step forward and provide care for both adults and children alike.

The “European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Executive Summary” states the following:

“The sequence of actions in paediatric BLS (PBLS) support will depend upon the level of training of the rescuer attending: those fully competent in PBLS, those trained only in ‘adult’ BLS and those untrained (dispatcher-assisted lay rescuers).”

EFR Instructors and students are classed in the middle category. The sequence of actions required are as follows:

Rescuers only trained in adult BLS

BLS providers who are untrained in PBLS, should follow the adult CPR algorithm with ventilations, as they were trained, adapting the techniques to the size of the child.

Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

In children with a cardiac arrest, a lone rescuer should immediately start CPR. In cases where the likelihood of a primary shockable rhythm is very high, such as in sudden witnessed collapse, if easily accessible, he or she can rapidly collect and apply an AED (at the time of calling EMS). In case there is more than one rescuer, a second rescuer will immediately call for help and then collect and apply an AED (if feasible).

Trained providers should limit the no-flow time when using an AED by restarting CPR immediately after the shock delivery or no shock decision; pads should be applied with minimal or no interruption in CPR. If possible, use an AED with a paediatric attenuator in infants and children below eight years. If such is not available, use a standard AED for all ages.

You can read the full article here: “European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021: Executive Summary” (erc.edu). Should you have any further questions, please contact your Regional Training Consultant.

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