The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has released interim guidance for resuscitation care intended specifically for patients with known or suspected COVID-19.

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This guidance is aimed at reducing the risk for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) transmission. The information was published on March 19, 2020 on the Association’s CPR website cpr.heart.org.

“Health care providers need to focus on helping people during this challenging time and the American Heart Association is doing everything it can to make it easier,” said Comilla Sasson, MD, PhD, FAHA, FACEP, a practicing emergency room physician and vice-president for emergency cardiovascular care science and innovation at the American Heart Association. “The information we are providing is drawn primarily from the US Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization recommendations. It includes information about caring for patients and guidance for EMS and other first responders.”

Specific guidance around caring for patients with known or suspected COVID-19 is provided for aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., CPR, endotracheal intubation, non-invasive ventilation), personal protective equipment, and airway management and use of noninvasive ventilation. Guidance for EMS and other first responders includes guidance for emergency medical dispatchers, pre-arrival notification, EMS clinician practices modifications including personal protective equipment, aerosol-generating procedures and risk of disease transmission, and transport considerations.

Additional resources and guidance on CPR training and card extensions can be located here. Find general resources from the American Heart Association on COVID-19 here.