Launch of the IFRC International First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines 2025

23/03/26

On 23 March, the International first aid, resuscitation and education guidelines 2025 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) were officially launched. These guidelines are the result of an intensive collaboration between several Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Societies and first aid specialists worldwide, coordinated by the IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre and a dedicated steering committee. 

CEBaP not only took part in this steering committee, but was also responsible for the delivery of the majority of the evidence to support the first aid recommendations, and for providing methodological support throughout the guideline development process. In addition, existing relevant evidence-based guidelines and recommendations from other organizations, such as the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, were integrated in the IFRC guidelines.

The evidence that was used to support the first aid guidelines is transparently documented under the “Scientific Foundation” section for each topic. Also, the 93 up-to-date evidence summaries developed by CEBaP are freely accessible following registration to CEBaP’s First Aid Evidence Summary Database. As part of the methodology of Evidence-Based Practice, field experience was also integrated and used to contextualise the guidelines. This was achieved by consulting an Engagement Committee, made up of practitioners and experts from the Red Cross movement across the world, which provided invaluable insights in different geographic contexts, availability of resources, legislation and access to emergency care. The IFRC guidelines will serve as a basis for the development of first aid training materials in RCRC Societies worldwide. We are proud to have contributed to its evidence base, so that effective, up-to-date first aid advice can be implemented on a global scale. In addition, by being involved in the development of these guidelines from the outset, we ensure that the guidelines and training programmes of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders are in line with these international guidelines.