Saving lives safely: Prof Peter Morley on Basic Life Support in the community during COVID-19.

Emerging data suggests that survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have fallen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this may be because first responders are delaying commence of CPR due to concerns about the risk of getting COVID-19.

Prof Peter Morley is Chair of the Australian Resuscitation Council and a member of the Cardiac Arrest Working Group that helped develop the CPR flowcharts published today by the Taskforce in partnership with the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG).

In this interview he discusses:

• Why the guidance was developed
• Who was involved
• What trained first responders need to know about giving basic life support during the pandemic
• Why it’s so important to know how to save lives safely during COVID-19
• Who the flowcharts are intended for
• The risk of getting COVID-19 from giving basic life support in Australia today
• The impact of giving chest compressions only CPR (no breaths)?
• How the taskforce will keep the guidance up-to-date if new evidence emerges
• Practical steps for applying the guidance if you need to give basic life support during the pandemic

View flowchart here: Basic Life Support for adults in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic