Resuscitation Council Updates 2026

🏆 UK Paediatric First Aid Changes 2026 – What You MUST Know!

The Resuscitation Council UK has updated its guidelines for 2026, with major changes to how we provide First Aid for babies and children! ⏱

Staying current isn’t just best practice – it’s essential for keeping children safe. These updates impact childcare settings, schools, nurseries, and anyone working with young people. Let’s dive in.

📌 Why Do These Paediatric Guideline Changes Matter?

✅ Improved Outcomes – The new techniques are proven to be more effective for infants and children.
✅ Reduced Confusion – Guidelines have been simplified to help you act faster and with more confidence.
✅ Best Practice – Ensures you’re providing care that meets the highest national standards for child safety.
✅ Legal & Professional Peace of Mind – Demonstrates you are up-to-date with your professional development.

👀 What Are the BIGGEST Paediatric Changes You Need to Know?

👉 Baby CPR: The Two-Thumb Technique is IN!

The old two-finger method for infant CPR is officially OUT. The two-thumb encircling technique is now the only recommended method for infant chest compressions. It provides better, more consistent pressure and is easier to maintain during prolonged CPR.

👉 CPR Ratio: 15:2 is the Magic Number!

The new recommended CPR ratio is 15:2 for children and babies, and 30:2 for adults. However, this is only if you’ve attended a dedicated paediatric training course. If you haven’t, the simple rule applies: 30:2 for everyone. This simplification helps most people remember one ratio and matches what emergency call handlers and AEDs will typically instruct.

👉 New Assessment Tool: The BBB Triangle

Meet your new best friend for spotting a seriously ill child: the Breathing, Behaviour, and Body Colour (BBB) Triangle. This simple tool helps you quickly assess a child’s condition and decide on the urgency of action. It’s designed to catch deteriorating children earlier, before they reach a critical state.

👉 Choking Babies: Same Grip as CPR!

To simplify techniques, chest thrusts for a choking infant now use the same two-thumb encircling grip that you use for CPR. No more switching between different hand positions in a panic! This makes it easier to remember and perform correctly under pressure.

👉 Call 999 Immediately for Unresponsive Children

The sequence has changed – now you call 999 FIRST when you find an unresponsive child, before giving rescue breaths. This ensures help is on the way as quickly as possible.

👉 Adult CPR Update: Don’t Waste Time Moving a Casualty!

While many changes focus on paediatrics, there’s one key adult update: If someone is on a soft surface like a bed, start CPR there immediately. The 2026 guidelines state you should NOT move the casualty to a firm surface, as this wastes critical time. Just push a little deeper to compensate for the mattress.

🎥 Watch Our Lead Trainer Explain the Changes

Want to see these techniques demonstrated? Our lead trainer Jo-Anne Moore has put together a short video explaining exactly what’s changed and why it matters. It’s especially helpful for visualizing the two-thumb technique and understanding the BBB Triangle. You can also watch this here:

🚀 How This Affects Your First Aid Training

At Manchester First Aid Training, all our courses are fully updated with the latest 2026 guidelines. When you train with us, you can be confident you’re learning the most current, effective techniques for protecting children and adults.

🤝 Long Story Short

The 2026 guidelines are all about making paediatric First Aid simpler and more effective. The key takeaways are: use the two-thumb technique for babies, stick to a 30:2 ratio in most cases, learn the BBB Triangle for assessment, and call 999 immediately for unresponsive children. These changes are designed to help you save young lives with more confidence.

Ready to get up-to-date?

Book your Paediatric First Aid course today and ensure your skills are sharp, current, and ready for any emergency involving children! ⚡