The 2005 Guidelines for resuscitation were published in November 2005 and the details of these guidelines can be found in the winter 2005 edition of Currents within the ECC section of the American Heart Association website.

After 1st July 2006 all courses will be taught using the new science.

INSTRUCTOR UPDATES

All instructors should have completed updates since 1st July 2006.

Any instructor who has not completed a science update by 1st July 2006 does not lose their instructor status, but may not teach until they complete the update.

A Science 2005 Update Certificate of Completion will be issued to each instructor when they have completed a Guidelines 2005 Update Session. 

NEW TEACHING MATERIALS

The Basic Life Support, ACLS and PALS teaching materials are available from suppliers.

INSTRUCTOR RENEWALS

Instructor renewals should continue to be conducted prior to an instructor's certification lapsing.

ACLS INSTRUCTOR UPDATES

All ACLS instructors need to complete the core instructor course. Please refer to your training site coordinator in relation to updating in the 2005 guidelines as an ACLS Instructor or if you have any queries regarding the rollout of the teaching of the new science at your training site.

BLS INSTRUCTOR UPDATES

The new Guidelines for the Basic Life Support (BLS) programme have been reviewed by both the BLS Council and the BLS Technical Committee prior to their release into the Irish Heart Foundation's CPR & ECC Training Programme. Instructor update sessions for BLS Instructors have now been conducted by BLS Instructor Trainers to brief BLS Instructors on the changes to the training programme.

The schedule of material to be covered in each BLS Science Update session includes the following:

• BLS Science Update
• Review of Bridge Materials
• Use of AED Trainers
• Use of Skill Testing Checklists (incorporating Skill Practice)
• BLS Course Update