2025 AHA Guidelines: What Your AED Program Needs
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The American Heart Association (AHA) has released its long-awaited 2025 Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) — and these updates bring important changes for anyone responsible for safety at work.
At FC Safety, we’ve spent years helping organizations build AED programs that truly save lives, not just check boxes. These new guidelines are an opportunity to strengthen that mission.
Below, we’ve summarized the key updates and what they mean for your workplace AED program, training, and overall readiness.
1. A Unified Chain of Survival
One of the biggest shifts in the 2025 guidelines is the introduction of a single, unified “Chain of Survival” for adults, children, and all care settings.
In previous versions, the AHA maintained separate chains for different scenarios. Now, the same sequence applies to everyone — simplifying training, communication, and real-world response.
What this means for your business:
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Update AED and CPR signage to reflect the new unified chain
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Use the same language across all emergency response materials
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Train all staff using the same, standardized sequence
This change will make it easier for your team to act quickly and consistently when seconds matter.
2. New Guidance for Choking and Opioid Emergencies
The new guidelines also expand beyond traditional cardiac arrest response, addressing choking and opioid-related emergencies with clearer direction.
For choking victims, the AHA now recommends alternating five back blows and five abdominal thrusts for children and adults, and five back blows and five chest thrusts for infants.
Additionally, the updated guidance includes stronger support for lay rescuers using naloxone during suspected opioid emergencies — an important addition given the ongoing public health impact of opioids.
How FC Safety is responding:
We’ve updated our first-aid and CPR course materials so your teams are trained using these new, life-saving methods.
3. Quality CPR and Real-Time Feedback
High-quality CPR remains the cornerstone of survival — and the AHA is doubling down on that message.
The 2025 update emphasizes real-time feedback tools in training and actual rescues. Devices that measure compression rate, depth, and recoil are now strongly recommended for both instructors and responders.
This isn’t just about passing a test — it’s about measurable readiness.
At FC Safety, we’re incorporating feedback-enabled manikins and AED trainers into our programs so responders can see their performance in real time. It’s one of the most effective ways to improve confidence and outcomes.
4. A Stronger Focus on Systems of Care
The new guidelines highlight that survival depends on systems of care — not just individual actions.
That means integrating people, policies, and equipment into a single coordinated plan. The best AED programs don’t stop at buying devices; they ensure that everyone knows what to do, how to use them, and how to keep everything maintained.
For businesses, this shift reinforces the need for:
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Regular AED program audits
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Documented policies and role assignments
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Scheduled refreshers and scenario drills
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Data-driven tracking of readiness and training completion
FC Safety’s program management tools already help companies meet these expectations — and the new AHA guidelines make them even more relevant.
5. What It Means for Your Workplace AED Program
If your organization already has AEDs in place, this update is your cue to take a closer look.
Here’s a quick checklist to start with:
✅ Review AED placement and signage for visibility and access
✅ Ensure your team’s training matches the new AHA course content
✅ Audit your emergency response plan to confirm it aligns with the “system of care” model
✅ Update your internal policies and communication plans
Many of our clients are taking this opportunity to refresh their training and verify that all AED units are registered, maintained, and ready for use.
6. Timeline: When Do These Changes Take Effect?
The 2025 AHA Guidelines were released on October 22, 2025. New training materials and course updates (including BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver) will roll out through early 2026.
For most organizations, this means a transition period over the next several months to update signage, training, and documentation.
At FC Safety, we’re already updating our course materials and AED program templates so our clients can transition smoothly and stay compliant.
Ready to Update Your Program?
If your team hasn’t reviewed its AED program or training since before the new guidelines, now’s the perfect time.
We can help you:
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Audit your current AED program
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Refresh signage and compliance documentation
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Update your team’s training to reflect the 2025 AHA standards
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Ensure your equipment, protocols, and people are all in sync
Let’s make sure your workplace isn’t just equipped — it’s ready to save a life.
👉 Contact FC Safety today to schedule a program review or training update.