New Insights in First Aid: Guideline Updates from the AHA and Red Cross

Staying current with first aid practices can make a life-saving difference during emergencies. In November 2024, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross unveiled significant updates to their First Aid guidelines, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of first responders and empower more individuals to act confidently in crises. This collaboration reflects their commitment to evidence-based practices, ensuring the public and medical professionals access the most reliable and practical guidance.

Key Changes in the 2024 First Aid Guidelines

These guidelines, co-developed by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, represent the first comprehensive update of first-aid treatment recommendations since 2010. They incorporate the results of structured evidence reviews from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. The guidelines have been developed so that first aid providers and instructors can focus on the science and rationale behind the recommendations, which will change first aid training and practice.

The most significant change between the 2010 and 2024 guidelines is the expanded scope of emergency care conditions. The 2010 version focuses on basic first-aid topics like chest pain, stroke recognition, and bleeding. The 2024 version provides greater specificity for these conditions and includes detailed guidance on several scenarios, including managing an opioid overdose, addressing a feeling of fainting, and treating a tick bite. In addition, the 2024 guidelines expand recommendations on emergencies previously covered and a broader range of conditions. Guidance is also enhanced for emergency care involving children.

The updated guidelines comprise 179 specific treatment recommendations organized into 38 modular knowledge chunks. Some highlights include:

1. Bleeding Control
   The guidelines now emphasize the critical role of immediate bleeding control. They outline techniques such as direct pressure application, appropriate use of tourniquets, and the importance of using hemostatic dressings when available. These updates reinforce the idea that rapid response to bleeding can prevent severe outcomes.

2. CPR and AED Integration in First Aid
   Recognizing the critical intersection between first aid and cardiac emergencies, the updated guidelines advocate for increased awareness and accessibility of CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) use during initial first aid responses. They emphasize seamless transitions between administering first aid and activating life-saving measures for cardiac arrest.

3. Updated Practices for Burns
   New evidence suggests revised cooling protocols for burns to minimize tissue damage. The guidelines highlight the importance of running cool (not ice-cold) water over burns for 10 to 20 minutes and avoiding home remedies like butter or ointments, which could complicate healing.

4. Choking Management for Adults and Children
   Enhanced recommendations for choking emergencies now include more explicit instructions on the Heimlich maneuver and back blows for different age groups. The updated guidance provides specific steps for infants to ensure safety and efficacy.

5. Opioid Overdose Response
   With the ongoing opioid crisis, the guidelines include strengthened recommendations for recognizing and responding to opioid overdoses, including naloxone administration and timely activation of emergency medical services (EMS).

6. Mental Health First Aid
   A progressive addition to the guidelines is the integration of mental health first aid protocols, focusing on recognizing signs of psychological distress and offering initial support. These recommendations aim to reduce stigma and encourage prompt, professional intervention.

7. Assistance with the Administration of Prescribed Medications

   The first aid provider should help a person self-administer prescribed lifesaving medications as needed, such as inhaled bronchodilators for asthma and intramuscular epinephrine for anaphylaxis.

8. Tick Bites

   First aid providers should remove an attached tick as soon as possible by grasping the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible with tweezers or a commercial tick removal device and pulling upward with steady, even pressure.

9. First aid for seizure

   First aid providers should activate emergency medical services for first-time seizures; seizures lasting >5 minutes; multiple seizures without return to normal; seizures in water; seizures with injuries, breathing difficulty, or choking; seizures in infants <6 months of age; and seizures in pregnant individuals or if the person does not return to baseline mental status within 5 to 10 minutes after seizure activity stops.

10. Oxygen and pulse oximetry use in first aid

    First aid providers should reasonably use pulse oximetry results as part of a complete assessment of an ill or injured person, considering the many limitations of pulse oximeters. However, they should also be aware of the potential harms of administering supplemental oxygen to individuals with known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They should not provide oxygen with a saturation of more than 92%.

A Legacy of Collaboration

The updated guidelines underscore the longstanding partnership between the AHA and the American Red Cross. Both organizations collaborate closely with leading medical researchers, first responders, and educators worldwide to ensure their recommendations are backed by science and reflect real-world effectiveness. First aid guidelines are updated every five years based on an exhaustive review of the latest medical research, incident data, and feedback from professionals in the field. This process ensures that the guidelines remain relevant, practical, and in line with advancements in healthcare and technology.

Why These Updates Matter

The latest guidelines are for medical professionals, bystanders, and community members. By simplifying complex medical protocols and making them accessible, the AHA and the American Red Cross empower more people to respond to emergencies. Research shows that immediate first aid response significantly increases survival rates and reduces recovery times in trauma victims.

How ACLS Academy is Supporting These Changes

At ACLS Academy, we are committed to providing up-to-date training that aligns with these newly revised guidelines. Our courses are designed to ensure students leave confident and well-equipped to handle a variety of medical emergencies. From Basic First Aid to Advanced Life Support, we integrate the latest standards to give you the tools to act decisively when it matters most.

If you’ve been certified in first aid, now is the time to refresh your knowledge with a course that reflects the 2024 updates. These new guidelines provide a perfect opportunity for those who haven't yet undergone training to get started. Everyone should possess the ability to act quickly in an emergency. ACLS Academy provides AHA HeartSaver Courses for Non-Healthcare Providers, including First Aid training. Register for an upcoming class.

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ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA)- Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts—Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center—and most of our classes include an online training component. We provide high-quality courses taught by instructors practicing in the medical profession for ACLS, BLS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS, ACLS- EP, ASLS, Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses. Please browse our catalog of courses.