title: The 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac care: an overview of the changes to pediatric basic and advanced life support.
abstract: The American Heart Association (AHA) has a strong commitment to implementing scientific research-based interventions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. This article presents the 2010 AHA major guideline changes to pediatric basic life support (BLS) and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) and the rationale for the changes. The following topics are covered in this article: (1) current understanding of cardiac arrest in the pediatric population, (2) major changes in pediatric BLS, and (3) major changes in PALS.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. bspencer@twu.edu
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Jisha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sallee
mesh_terms: D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States