2020 International
first aid Guidelines
WHAT’S NEW
Audience First aid programme designers, programme managers, education and scientific committees, trainers
Purpose Provide an overview of what is new and the changes from the 2016 Guidelines
1. Explore the guidelines
Each topic of the Guidelines is found here on the platform as well as in a print publication for easy downloading.
You will find this section in About the 2020 Guidelines – with practical tools and guidance for taking the guidelines from evidence to your first aid education interventions.
3. Get in touch!
first.aid@ifrc.org
- Share your success!
- Get help.
- Connect with colleagues from around the world that are implementing the guidelines in their own communities.
- Sign-up for a regional webinar and express interest.
- Get involved!
What’s in a name?
The previous two editions of the Guidelines released in 2011 and 2016 were titled the International first aid and resuscitation guidelines. As the 2020 Guidelines were in development, it became clear that one of their greatest strengths is how we approach supporting first aiders and programme managers alike with practical steps to provide care and first aid education.
To that end, we recognize education and present the new name for the Guidelines:
International first aid, resuscitation, and education guidelines
Communicating changes
The implementation of the 2020 Guidelines is an opportunity to communicate with internal and external teams and partners, and to demonstrate the leading role of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in evidence-based first aid education practice. When communicating any changes, carefully consider the messaging you use and adjust it according to the audience. You may also like to use our advocacy tool to help advocate that your government recognises the Guidelines as an authorised source of first aid recommendations.
Feedback tells us that if people believe that first aid changes all the time it can affect their confidence and willingness to act. First aid, resuscitation and education science evolves over time, and these guidelines aline with the current best-evidence base. However, these improvements tend to be minor adjustments in practice, and generally do not make previous practice wrong. Learners should be reminded that not acting carries a much greater risk than acting on slightly older guidelines. Previous guidelines do not contain suggestions that could cause significant harm. These first aid, resuscitation and education guidelines are evidence-based, and should be tailored to the relevant audience and local content needs.
What's new guide
What’s new is a guide to help you to navigate the changes in the International first aid, resuscitation, and education guidelines 2020. It includes sections on:
● Where to start with implementation
● Overall Changes to each topic included in the 2020 Guidelines
● A breakdown of the Structure of each topic
● Summary of changes, including:
⇒ New topics
⇒ Specific updates to education topics
⇒ Specific updates to first aid topics
● A summary of Key actions, including where systematic and non-systematic reviews were used
Explore the guidelines
Published: 15 February 2021
First aid
Explore the first aid recommendations for more than 50 common illnesses and injuries. You’ll also find techniques for first aid providers and educators on topics such as assessing the scene and good hand hygiene.
First aid education
Choose from a selection of some common first aid education contexts and modalities. There are also some education strategy essentials to provide the theory behind our education approach.
About the guidelines
Here you can find out about the process for developing these Guidelines, and access some tools to help you implement them locally.