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CPR Modifications in a Pandemic

Hands-only CPR is an option.

COVID CPR guidelines

Keep up to date on how to protect yourself and your clients. The American Heart Association, in collaboration with other medical organizations, has published interim CPR guidelines, plus additional information, to help rescuers treat victims of cardiac arrest with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The goal is twofold: Promote survival chances and protect rescuer safety. Modifications include the following:

  • Limit personnel in the room or on the scene to those essential for patient care.
  • Cover the victim’s mouth and nose with a cloth or mask.
  • If you are the rescuer, wear a face mask that covers the mouth and nose.
  • Perform hands-only CPR.

“CPR remains a critical component of care . . . particularly during this pandemic, but it does place rescuers at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure,” said Dana P. Edelson, MD, MS, executive medical director of Rescue Care at the University of Chicago and corresponding author of the volunteer writing group for the interim guidelines. “This guidance draws on evolving science and expert opinion to help health systems and providers mitigate that risk with the hopes of maintaining the survival gains for cardiac arrest achieved over the past two decades.”

The guidelines are available in Circulation (2020; doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047463).


Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA

Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.

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