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Title: Are you Ready? Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Updates - back to BLS

Category: Pediatrics

Keywords: Pediatrics, BLS, resuscitation, CPR (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/9/2026 by Kat Stephanos, MD (Updated: 7/21/2026)

In 2025, the AHA and AAP teamed up for the latest Cardiac arrest guides- worth a read overall, Peds had a couple tweaks which should be recognized.  

2-finger CPR is OUT. It has been shown to be ineffective, so the Two Thumb–Encircling Hands Technique should be used on ALL infants. 

Grab your AED early. While a staple of adult BLS, this is now being emphasized in pediatrics as well.  

For foreign body aspiration, remember to start with 5 back blows, but if the child is <1year old follow with chest thrusts, those who are older may receive abdominal thrusts. Repeat as needed. This has been in the literature for a while but was re-enforced due to potential injury to infants who receive abdominal thrusts.

References

Lasa JJ, Dhillon GS, Duff JP, Hayes J, Kamath-Rayne BD, Levy A, Mahgoub M, Morgan RW, McCormick T, Roberts JS, Ross CE, Schexnayder SM, Sweberg T, Valdés SO, Topjian AA. Part 8: Pediatric Advanced Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2025 Oct 21;152(16_suppl_2):S479-S537. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001368. Epub 2025 Oct 22. PMID: 41122885.


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