title: Basic life support: controversial and unresolved issues.
abstract: The author presents an overview of basic life support for pediatric and adult victims of prehospital cardiac arrest. Current guidelines regarding the practice of basic life support are included, with emphasis on controversial or unresolved aspects of basic life support and lay rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This article concludes with a list of recommended questions for research activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hazinski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy