A new Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference (stock no. 656732), recently redesigned and updated, is now being used to fulfill new orders.

In addition to a new cover design, the layout was visually streamlined with the use of icons for steps such as checking the scene and the person and for calling 9-1-1. The new card design also improves the flow of information by providing the content for unresponsive victims on one side (checking an Injured or Ill Adult, CPR and AED) and the content for responsive victims (conscious choking and first aid) on the other side of the card.

The “Unconscious Choking” panel was removed to reflect the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council’s recommendation to move as quickly as possible to chest compressions for a choking victim who has become unresponsive. The skill of unconscious choking and the skill of CPR are the same with only a slight modification of opening the mouth and looking for an object between chest compressions and ventilations (with the removal of the object if seen). This directional message has been added to the new card’s CPR skill panel under step 2. The change was made because the process of opening the airway and looking for an object when a victim becomes unresponsive delays the critical start of chest compressions. Chest compressions are the primary skill for both the clearing of an airway for an unresponsive victim as well as for CPR.