American Heart 2025 AHA 2025 Guideline Updates: What’s New in CPR and Blood Pressure Care
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Introduction
The American Heart Association (AHA) has just released its 2025 updates to the CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines — along with new recommendations for hypertension (high blood pressure) management. These updates bring important changes for both healthcare professionals and everyday lifesavers.
Key CPR & ECC Updates
- Unified Chain of Survival: A single streamlined model now applies to all cardiac arrest situations — in-hospital, out-of-hospital, adult, and pediatric.
- Updated Choking Response: For adults and children, alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is cleared or the person becomes unresponsive. Infants now receive 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts (no abdominal thrusts).
- Opioid Overdose Response: Expanded emphasis on rapid naloxone use and public access to opioid emergency kits.
- Post-Cardiac Arrest Care: Maintain controlled temperature for at least 36 hours for patients who remain unresponsive after cardiac arrest.
- Ethics & Education: A new ethics section addresses life-support decisions and training fairness. CPR education for youth ages 12+ is also newly endorsed.
Key Hypertension (Blood Pressure) Updates
- Same Goal, Earlier Action: The <130/80 mm Hg target remains but with stronger emphasis on early treatment and prevention.
- New Risk Tool: The PREVENTâ„¢ Equation replaces older calculators to better estimate cardiovascular risk.
- Focus on Special Populations: Updated recommendations for those with kidney disease, resistant hypertension, or pregnancy-related high BP.
- Lifestyle First: Reinforced guidance on healthy diet, physical activity, weight control, stress management, and adequate sleep.
Why These Updates Matter
These changes reflect a growing focus on prevention, faster emergency action, and better survival outcomes. For CPR providers, first responders, and everyday citizens, it means clearer guidance — and more lives saved.
Learn or Renew Your CPR Certification
At In-Pulse CPR, our instructors follow the latest AHA standards in every class. Whether you need BLS for healthcare, First Aid, or AED training, our classrooms across Minnesota, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee are ready to help you stay current.
