ANZCOR has released the updated Guideline 12.1 – Paediatric Basic Life Support (PBLS) for health professionals, incorporating several important changes to paediatric resuscitation practice.
Key updates include:
• New guidance supporting immediate commencement of chest compressions while awaiting bag-mask ventilation equipment, with 2 initial ventilations recommended only if BMV is immediately available
• Clarification that pulse palpation alone is not reliable to determine cardiac arrest or the need for chest compressions
• Updated recommendations supporting commencement of CPR in unresponsive infants and children with absent or agonal breathing
• Stronger preference for the two-thumb encircling chest compression technique in infants due to improved compression depth and reduced rescuer fatigue
• New guidance recommending anterior-posterior pad placement when using manual defibrillation in infants and children
• Addition of a dedicated section on management of Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) in children, including back blows and chest thrusts, with advice against routine abdominal thrusts
The updated guideline reinforces the importance of rapid recognition of paediatric deterioration, minimising delays to chest compressions, and optimising airway and ventilation management in both in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings.
These updates align with evolving international paediatric resuscitation evidence and contemporary PBLS practice.
Read the full guideline update here:
Guideline 12.1 – Paediatric Basic Life Support (PBLS) for health professionals
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