Our unit is in the process of updating our practice to align with the 2005 ILCOR Guidelines for Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.  The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation  is an international consortium of representatives from many of the worlds resuscitation councils.  Over a period of 36 months they threw a few wicked cocktail parties, and invited over 380 international resuscitation experts to complete the new guidelines which now supersedes the old 2000 guidelines.

The basic philosophy of the updated BLS is to simplify and streamline its components.

• Assess Level of Consciousness.
  Stimulate and Shout / Tap and Talk
  If no response then:
• Call for Help.
  Hit the call buzzer or shout for assistance.
  Note the time.
• Open the airway.
  Move the bed away from the wall to better access the patients air holes.
  Remove the bed head if it will obstruct you.
  Place the patient in a supine position.
  Use Jaw Thrust or Chin Lift to open the airway.
• Assess breathing.
  Look for the rise and fall of the chest wall.
  Listen for air movement.
  Feel for air against your cheek.
• If breathing is present.
  Turn the patient onto their left lateral side.
  Consider oxygen.
  Observe and re-assess.
• If breathing is absent.
  Consider airway adjunct such as Guedels airway or Nasopharyngeal airway.
  Ventilate via pocket mask or Bag/Valve/Mask.
  2 effective breaths, each delivered over 1 second.
• Assess circulation.
  Assess for output via Carotid/Femoral pulse for up to 10 seconds.
  If pulse present: provide 10 to 12 breaths/minute (1 breath every 4 to 5 seconds)
  If pulse absent: commence cardiac compressions.
  If unsure: commence cardiac compressions.
• Commence cardiac compressions.
  Position heel of lower hand 2 fingers above xiphisternum.
  Lock elbows with arms straightened
  Position shoulders over your hands
  Fingers to be interlaced or extended (keep them off the chest)
  Depth 4-5cm or 1/3 the anterior posterior chest diameter
  Rate 100 compressions per minute (at least).
  Smooth action (50%compression and 50% release)
• Music to perform CPR to:
  Ok you got me. This is not part of the guidelines …but at the risk of digressing, all the following songs play at 100 beats per minute:
  Walk On. U2,  No Shelter, Rage Against the Machine. Aeroplane, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Take my Breath Away, Jessica Simpson.
• Compression and ventilation ratios:
  30 Compressions followed by 2 Breaths (for 1 or 2 people)
  Pause CPR to deliver the breaths. If patient is intubated a pause is not necessary.
• Reassess for return pulse/breathing.
  After 2 minutes/5 cycles – re-assess rhythm/pulse
  No Pulse – continue CPR and check rhythm at 2 minutes
  Pulse and breathing – left lateral position or supine if Guedel insitu and observe.

In Summary:

You should begin CPR if the victim is unconscious, not moving, and not breathing (ignoring occasional gasps).

For mouth-to-mouth ventilation or for bag-valve–mask ventilation with room air or oxygen, the rescuer should deliver each breath in 1 second and should see visible chest rise.

The new guidelines place Increased emphasis on the process of CPR: push hard at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, allow full chest recoil, and minimize interruptions in chest compressions.

For the single rescuer of an infant (except newborns), child, or adult victim, use a single compression-ventilation ratio of 30:2, to increase the number of compressions given, and decrease interruptions in compressions. During 2-rescuer CPR of the infant or child, you should use a 15:2 compression-ventilation ratio.

During CPR for a patient with an advanced airway (ie, tracheal tube, esophageal-tracheal combitube [Combitube], laryngeal mask airway [LMA]) in place, deliver ventilations at a rate of 8 to 10 per minute for infants (excepting neonates), children and adults, without pausing during chest compressions to deliver the ventilations.

A full discussion of the evidence-based recommendations for the new guidelines can be found here: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/112/22_suppl/III-5