What’s New in the 2025 American Heart Association CPR & AED Guidelines — and How Main Line Family Education Is Bringing Them to You

Every few years, the American Heart Association (AHA) releases updated science-based recommendations for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AED use, and emergency cardiovascular care. In October 2025, the AHA published the 2025 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) — the most comprehensive update since 2020. These updates reflect the latest evidence and are designed to help people respond more effectively in cardiac and respiratory emergencies. (American Heart Association)

Key Updates You Should Know

Here’s a breakdown of the most significant changes included in the 2025 guidelines:

Infant CPR Techniques Now Emphasize Two-Thumb Encircling

One of the major updates in the 2025 guidelines is a shift in how infant chest compressions are performed:

• The traditional two-finger technique has been removed from the recommended infant CPR methods because it often fails to achieve adequate compression depth. (cpr.heart.org)
• Instead, the preferred method for infants (under 1 year) is now the two-thumb encircling hands technique, where both thumbs are placed on the lower half of the sternum and the fingers encircle and support the infant’s back. This technique produces more consistent and deeper compressions — which improves circulation during resuscitation. (HealthyChildren.org)
• If a rescuer cannot physically encircle the chest for the two-thumb technique, an alternative approved option is compressions using the heel of one hand. (Amazon Web Services, Inc.)

These changes recognize that stronger, more effective compressions can significantly improve infant CPR quality and outcomes. (cpr.heart.org)

At Main Line Family Education, we’ve been demonstrating and practicing the two-thumb encircling hands technique as an additional method for years and we have generally found that people prefer this method. We’re excited about this change and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has taken a class with us in recent years.

Expanded Choking Response Recommendations

The guidelines refine how lay responders should address choking in both children and adults. Rescuers are now instructed to alternate five back blows with five abdominal thrusts for conscious adults and children until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive. For infants, the technique is five back blows alternating with five chest thrusts — and abdominal thrusts are not recommended in infants. (American Heart Association) Previously, it was recommended to use abdominal thrusts only on adults and children (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).

Updated Course Materials and Learning Tools

Alongside the clinical recommendations, the AHA released updated course materials and videos for its Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED curriculum as well as for BLS, ACLS, and PALS training programs — updated materials became available in late 2025 and early 2026 for instructors and students alike.

A Unified “Chain of Survival”

The AHA simplified rescue priorities by adopting a single chain of survival that applies to cardiac arrest at any age — adult, pediatric, in-hospital, and out-of-hospital cases. This unified approach streamlines training and reinforces early recognition, high-quality CPR, rapid defibrillation, advanced care, and post-arrest support. (American Heart Association)

New Tools for Opioid Emergency Response

With opioid overdoses continuing as a public health issue, the 2025 guidelines introduce a new algorithm for suspected opioid emergencies, including guidance for public access to naloxone administration. (professional.heart.org)

Main Line Family Education: Teaching the New 2025 Guidelines With Updated Videos

At Main Line Family Education, we believe everyone should have access to current, evidence-based CPR and AED training. As of January 2026, we are proudly teaching the 2025 AHA guidelines, including the most up-to-date techniques for infant CPR and AED use, through engaging new instructional videos and updated course content.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, school professional, healthcare provider, or community volunteer, our updated classes will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to act quickly and correctly in an emergency. From high-quality CPR and AED use to the updated infant two-thumb encircling technique, our courses reflect the latest AHA science and best practices.

Why These Updates Matter

Sudden cardiac arrest and choking can happen anywhere — at home, school, or in the community. Immediate and effective action can save lives. By staying current with the AHA’s 2025 updates and ensuring your CPR and AED training reflects these changes, you are better prepared to respond when every second counts.

Ready to learn or refresh your lifesaving skills? We offer training and certification in many different formats. Find the best option for you here: https://www.mlfed.com/learn-cpr/