New CPR guidelines issued by American Heart Association for Missouri

Roughly 350,000 people across the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, and about 90 percent do not survive, underscoring the importance of rapid response from bystanders.

Physicians with the American Heart Association are working to improve survival rates in Missouri and nationwide by introducing updated CPR guidelines designed to help people without medical training intervene effectively.

Dr. Ashish Panchal, an emergency department physician at the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State University, said immediate action is essential when a person’s heart stops.

“When CPR begins, the rescuer’s hands act as the patient’s heart,” Panchal said. “Every beat and every compression pushes blood through the body, into the brain, and brings that person closer to returning home to their family with their neurological function preserved.”

The revised guidelines, published in the journal Circulation, represent the first major update since 2020. Panchal said the changes include a unified Chain of Survival that applies to all cardiac arrest situations, along with greater emphasis on delivering high-quality chest compressions and rescue breaths.

He noted that scientific understanding of CPR has expanded significantly in recent years, prompting new educational approaches. Training opportunities include traditional classroom sessions, online instruction, and hybrid models, with local centers and institutions offering certified courses. Colleges and universities, including Missouri State University, frequently host these trainings.

“It’s a volunteer-led effort focused on communicating the newest science,” Panchal said. “The growth in research has been exponential, and it must be transformed into something people can use in everyday situations.”

Panchal added that increasing community access to CPR certification can dramatically improve survival rates during cardiac emergencies. “We need to consider the simplest and most direct ways every person can save a life,” he said. “That’s what these CPR guidelines provide for lay rescuers — a clear and practical method for making a meaningful impact in the community.”