Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) is a healthcare charity focused on resuscitation education and training for healthcare professionals and bystander

CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used during cardiac or respiratory arrest that involves chest compressions, often combined with artificial ventilation, to preserve brain function and maintain circulation until sp ...

awareness for the public. It is the United Kingdom body responsible for setting central standards for CPR and related disciplines. RCUK is a member of the European Resuscitation Council, which is part of the international standards body, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR).

History

Resuscitation Council UK was formed in 1983 by a group of medical professionals with a shared interest in research-based resuscitation methods and instruction. Its objective is to educate both the general public and health care professionals in the most effective resuscitation methods. RCUK's resuscitation guidelines and quality standards provide guidance for healthcare professionals regarding adult,

paediatric Pediatrics (American English) also spelled paediatrics (British English), is the branch of medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Prev ...

and newborn resuscitation. The organisation has an established set of professional training courses that operate across the UK and train healthcare professionals in immediate and

advanced life support Advanced Life Support (ALS) is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend basic life support to further support the circulation and provide an open airway and adequate ventilation (breathing). Components Key aspects of ALS level care ...

. In more recent years, Resuscitation Council UK has also been involved in various campaigns to support the public in learning CPR. RCUK leads the UK's effort on Restart a Heart Day, working with St John Ambulance, NHS Ambulance Services, British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and the Saving Lives for Scotland to raise awareness of out-of-hospital

cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest (also known as sudden cardiac arrest CA is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When the heart stops beating, blood cannot properly Circulatory system, circulate around the body and the blood flow to the ...

and encourage people to learn CPR skills. RCUK also works to raise awareness of the importance of CPR decision-making, and has developed the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) Process, which has been adopted in numerous regions across the UK.

Aims

Resuscitation Council UK aims to: * establish appropriate guidelines for resuscitation * encourage members of the public to respond quickly to an emergency and learn CPR skills * encourage research into methods of resuscitation * promote the teaching of resuscitation as established in the guidelines * establish and maintain standards for resuscitation * develop community partnerships and tackle health inequality in the UK

References

External links

Resuscitation Council UK Official Website

European Resuscitation Council Official Website
{{authority control Emergency medicine education Emergency medicine organisations Health in the London Borough of Camden Heart disease organizations Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden