Highlights of the 2024 AHA and Red Cross First Aid Guidelines

This document is a guide that summarizes the significant new and updated recommendations from the 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) and American Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid. It is designed for first aid providers and instructors, focusing on the science and rationale for the recommendations that will impact first aid training and practice. The guide outlines the development process of the guidelines, which included creating a list of first aid topics and formulating evidence-based recommendations based on consensus from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). The highlights present 179 specific treatment recommendations across various topics, including opioid overdose, recognition of stroke in children, and the use of pulse oximetry in first aid. The document emphasizes the importance of training in new areas such as opioid overdose response and the recognition of pediatric strokes, which have been previously overlooked in first aid guidelines. It also discusses the teaching methodology for first aid training, advocating for a comprehensive approach to skill acquisition and maintenance.