New 2025 Guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK): What It Means for Basic Life Support & Choking in Community Settings
The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has just released its 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, replacing the 2021 versions — and they bring important updates for Basic Life Support (BLS) and choking in community settings.
At Care 4 Quality, we know these skills save lives every day — so here’s what’s new and what it means for you.
More info here: RCUK publishes 2025 guidelines
And the full guidelines are here: Resuscitation Council UK – 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines
Basic Life Support: Key Updates
- Call 999 first — don’t wait to confirm cardiac arrest before calling.
- Recognise abnormal breathing: gasping or noisy breaths could still mean cardiac arrest.
- Chest compressions: keep the rhythm at 100–120 per minute, depth 5–6 cm.
- Rescue breaths: trained responders should give them, but compressions-only CPR is better than doing nothing.
- AEDs for everyone — anyone can and should use one if available.
- Support for responders: the guidelines now emphasise post-event debrief and emotional wellbeing.
Choking: Stay Calm, Act Fast
- Encourage coughing first — if the person can still breathe or speak, let them try to clear it.
- If they can’t cough, breathe or speak: give up to 5 back blows, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts.
- If they become unresponsive — start CPR and call for help immediately.
What This Means for You
- Update your policies in line with the latest guidance to ensure best practice.
- Update your BLS and choking training to match the 2025 guidance.
- Check your AED — make sure staff know where it is and how to use it.
- Run short scenario-based refreshers so staff act quickly and confidently.
Our Take
Small updates — big impact. Acting fast, calling early, and knowing what to do can double or triple survival in a cardiac arrest.
We’ll be updating our training, audits and policies to reflect these 2025 changes — so your teams stay confident, compliant and ready.
Learn more: Resuscitation Council UK – 2025 Guidelines
