Basic Life Support for Care Staff: The 2026 Guide to Current UK Guidelines
Bystander CPR and defibrillator use can increase the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest two- to four-fold (Resuscitation Council UK, 2025).
Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) published its current guidelines, the 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, in October 2025. They are now the standard behind BLS training in 2026, and because they run on a five-year update cycle, they will stay current for some time. For care workers, the message is reassuring: the principles of CPR have not changed. One change to the opening sequence does matter, though, and every care home, domiciliary care agency and supported living service should check that its basic life support (BLS) training reflects it.
1. What Has Changed for Adult BLS?
The headline change: call 999 for any unresponsive person straight away, then assess their breathing while you wait for the call to be answered. Previously, rescuers checked breathing first. Put your phone on speaker so both hands stay free. The call handler will help you judge whether breathing is abnormal and guide you through CPR.
Also worth knowing:
- Slow, laboured breathing, gasping or panting must be treated as signs of cardiac arrest.
- If someone is unresponsive with abnormal breathing, assume cardiac arrest and start CPR. If in doubt, start.
- The guidelines now recognise that attempting resuscitation can be traumatic, so support colleagues afterwards.
2. What Stays the Same
- Compress the centre of the chest at 100–120 compressions a minute, 5–6 cm deep, allowing full recoil.
- If trained in rescue breaths, give 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Otherwise, use continuous compressions.
- Attach an AED as soon as one is available and follow its prompts. Anyone can use one
3. Three Realities of Care Settings
Beds. RCUK advises against moving someone from a soft surface, such as a bed, to the floor. Start CPR on the bed and, if needed, compress deeper to compensate for the mattress.
Emergency care plans. Staff should know where residents’ ReSPECT forms or DNACPR decisions are kept and how your policy applies them. These decisions are made in advance, so this knowledge cannot wait for an emergency.
Defibrillators. If you hold an AED, keep it clearly signed, check it regularly and register it on The Circuit so ambulance services can direct callers to it.
4. How Often Should Care Staff Refresh BLS?
RCUK’s quality standards set the benchmark: staff should receive at least annual training and updates in CPR, and where practical CPR training applies, the annual refresher should include hands-on practice. The Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF) sets minimum learning outcomes and refresher frequencies by resuscitation level, so confirm what each role needs through your training needs analysis.
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Element
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Good practice
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Cover BLS for new starters. It is Standard 12 of the Care Certificate
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At least every 12 months
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Hands-on manikin CPR, plus AED practice where you hold one
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Paediatric BLS for staff who support children
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Dates, content and competence kept in your training matrix
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Trainers working to the 2025 guidelines
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5. Online, Face-to-Face or Both?
Online CSTF-aligned courses suit large teams: they cover knowledge, run 24/7 and generate records. CPR is a physical skill, however, so pair online learning with practical manikin sessions. Our face-to-face training in Ilford runs at Suite 22, Ask Office Suites, 132–134 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4LZ, and we can also train at your workplace across London and Essex.
- Need BLS alongside moving and handling? See our CSTF Moving and Handling and BLS course.
- Want in-house capability? Explore Train the Trainer: Basic Life Support.
- Building a full programme? Combine everything in our CSTF bundle.
🩺 Ready to get your team BLS-ready?
CQC Framework Focus: Safe and Well-led. Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) expects staff to have the competence, skills and experience to care safely, and Regulation 18 (staffing) expects the training they need for their duties. Be ready to show inspectors your training records, practical sign-off and emergency plans.
Key Takeaways
- Call 999 first for any unresponsive person, then assess breathing.
- CPR technique is unchanged: 100–120 compressions a minute, 5–6 cm deep.
- Refresh BLS at least annually, with hands-on practice.
- Know your residents’ emergency care plans and where your AED is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 2025 guidelines change how to perform CPR?
No. The core technique is unchanged. The main change is calling 999 before assessing breathing.
How often do care workers need BLS training?
RCUK’s standards call for at least annual CPR training and updates. Confirm the CSTF level for each role through your training needs analysis.
Is online BLS training enough on its own?
Online learning builds knowledge, but where practical training applies, RCUK expects annual refreshers to include hands-on CPR. Pair the two.
Can care staff use a defibrillator without training?
Yes. RCUK states that anyone can use an AED and that no training is needed, although training builds confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Why There’s No Single Official Answer
- Recommended Refresher Intervals by Course
- What CQC Actually Looks For
- Building a Refresher Schedule That Actually Works
- Book Your Refresher Training
- FAQs