Standards and Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC)

The National Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) held in September 1979 developed standards and guidelines for CPR and ECC. They encompass (1) principles and techniques for the performance of basic and advanced cardiac life support; (2) standards for training and certification in basic life support as defined by the American Heart Association; (3) recommendations for training, testing, and supervision of medical and allied health personnel; (4) the proposed role of the American Red Cross and other agencies in the training of the lay public; (5) a renewed, strong emphasis on community acceptance of responsibility for coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality and acceptance of organized implementation of primary and secondary prevention programs in parallel with ECC efforts; (6) definition of the role of ECC units in stratified systems of emergency care; and (7) medicolegal aspects of CPR and ECC. (JAMA244:453-509, 1980)