The American Heart Association released updated CPR guidelines this week, marking significant changes to recommendations designed to help everyday people respond effectively during medical emergencies.

Dr. Ashish Panchal, an emergency physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and one of the writers of the updated guidelines, emphasized the importance of staying current with lifesaving techniques. "The best, most updated information is necessary to make sure that we save every life," Panchal said.

The new guidelines introduce revised protocols for treating conscious choking victims, both children and adults. Rescuers should now provide alternating cycles of five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts until the obstruction is cleared or the person becomes unresponsive. For infants, the recommendation calls for five back blows followed by five chest thrusts using the heel of the hand.

With approximately 350,000 Americans experiencing cardiac arrest outside hospital settings each year, the guidelines stress that quick action can mean the difference between life and death. The updated recommendations state that CPR can be effectively taught to children as young as 12 years old, expanding the pool of potential lifesavers in communities.

The association is also advocating for increased CPR training accessibility across communities. According to Panchal, even untrained bystanders can make a critical difference. "Once somebody suddenly collapses for no apparent reason, call 911, push hard and fast. Even if you don't know what you're doing, then the responder on the phone, that dispatcher will help you walk through this so that you can save this person's life," he explained.

The updated guidelines also address opioid overdose response, including expanded guidance on recognizing when to administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.

COVID vaccines and cancer treatment

In separate health news, a study published in the scientific journal Nature suggests that mRNA coronavirus vaccines may have had an unexpected benefit for certain cancer patients undergoing treatment. Researchers examined health records of patients receiving immunotherapy for lung and skin cancer, comparing outcomes between those who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and those who did not.

According to the findings, the mRNA vaccines nearly doubled the median survival length of patients who received them. Researchers believe the vaccines may have awakened the body's immune system to recognize cancer cells, though the exact mechanism remains unclear. The study's lead author emphasized that additional research is needed to better understand these findings.