Part 12: Resuscitation Education Science: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

Abstract

Developed by the American Heart Association, these Guidelines represent the first comprehensive update of education recommendations since 2020. Incorporating the results of structured evidence reviews from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, these are guidelines for the design and delivery of resuscitation training for health care professionals and lay rescuers. This update emphasizes the continuous evolution of evidence evaluation and the necessity of adapting educational strategies to local needs and diverse community demographics. Existing guidelines remain relevant unless specifically updated in this publication. Key topics that are new, are substantially revised, or have significant new literature include the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation feedback devices in training, rapid-cycle deliberate practice, teamwork and leadership training, manikin fidelity, gamified learning, virtual and augmented reality, use of cognitive aids, stepwise training, blended learning, scripted debriefing, instructor training, alternative objects for lay rescuer chest compression training, and special considerations for training in the management of opioid overdose. How certain personal considerations may influence the overall impact of education are also reviewed, including disparities accordingly related to gender, race, socioeconomic status, and language; the impact of training for school children; and factors that act as barriers or facilitators to lay rescuer willingness to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We conclude with a summary of current knowledge gaps in resuscitation education science and a discussion of future directions for optimizing the impact of resuscitation training programs.

Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; disparities; education; educational design; health care professionals; lay person; training.