European Resuscitation Council COVID-19 Guidelines: 24 April 2020

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European
Resuscitation
Council
COVID-19
Guidelines
24 April 2020
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European
Resuscitation
Council
COVID-19
Guidelines
Ed i t i o n 1
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Contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Basic Life Support in Adults 6
3. Advanced Life Support in Adults 9
4. Paediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support 14
5. Newborn Life Support 22
6. Education 28
7. Ethics and End-of-Life Decisions 34
8. First Aid 44
Ph o t o s co u r t e s y o f Fo t o g r a f i e p o l a k
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Section 1
Introduction
JP. Nolan
T his guideline was provided on 24 April 2020 and will be subject to evolving
knowledge and experience of COVID-19. As countries are at different stages
of the pandemic, there may be some international variation in practice.
1
EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Introduction
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The disease is
caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is
highly contagious. A recent systematic review that included 53,000 patients indicates
that 80% of patients have mild disease, 15% have moderate disease and about 5%
have severe disease requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.1 In this review the
fatality rate was 3.1%. Among 136 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and
in-hospital cardiac arrest at a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, China, 119 (87.5%) had a
respiratory cause for their cardiac arrest.2 In this series of patients, the initial cardiac
arrest rhythm was asystole in 122 (89.7%), pulseless electrical activity in 6 (4.4%) and
ventricular fibrillation/ pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) in 8 (5.9%). In a case
series of 138 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, 16.7% of patients developed arrhythmias
and 7.2% had acute cardiac injury.3 Thus, although most cardiac arrests in these
patients are likely to present with a non-shockable rhythm caused by hypoxaemia
(although dehydration, hypotension and sepsis may also contribute), some will have
a shockable rhythm, which may be associated with drugs causing prolonged-QT
syndrome (e.g. chloroquine, azithromycin) or caused by myocardial ischaemia. In the
series of 136 cardiac arrests from Wuhan, four (2.9%) patients survived for at least
30 days but only one of these had a favourable neurological outcome.2
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isks associated with cardiopulmonary

R
resuscitation (CPR) in patients with COVID-19
Mechanisms of transmission of SARS-CoV-2

The main mechanism of disease transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is by respiratory
secretions either directly from the patient or by touching contaminated surfaces.
Respiratory secretions are called either droplets (> 5–10 microns in diameter) or
airborne particles (< 5 microns). Droplets fall onto surfaces within 1–2 metres of the
patient’s respiratory tract while airborne particles can remain suspended in the air for
prolonged periods.4
Personal protective equipment (PPE)

The minimum droplet-precaution personal protective equipment (PPE) comprises:
• Gloves
• Short-sleeved apron
• Fluid-resistant surgical mask
2
• E ye and face protection (fluid-resistant surgical mask with integrated visor or full-

face shield/visor or polycarbonate safety glasses or equivalent).
The minimum airborne-precaution PPE comprises:

• Gloves
• Long-sleeved gown
• F iltering facepiece 3 (FFP3) or N99 mask/respirator (FFP2 or N95 if FFP3 not
available)*
• E ye and face protection (full-face shield/visor or polycarbonate safety glasses or
equivalent). Alternatively, powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) with hoods
may be used.
* The European Standard (EN 149:2001) classifies FFP respirators into three classes:
FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3 with corresponding minimum filtration efficiencies of 80%,
94%, and 99%. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
classifies particulate filtering facepiece respirators into nine categories based on
their resistance to oil and their efficiency in filtering airborne particles. N indicates
not resistant to oil; R is moderately resistant to oil; and P is strongly resistant to oil –
‘oil proof’. The letters N, R or P are followed by numerical designations 95, 99, or 100,
which indicate the filter’s minimum filtration efficiency of 95%, 99%, and 99.97% of
airborne particles (<0.5 microns).5,6
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Some healthcare systems are facing shortages of personnel and equipment, including
ventilators, to treat critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions
on triage and allocation of healthcare resources, including the provision of CPR and
other emergency care must be made by individual systems based on their resources,
values and preferences. However, the position of the ERC is that it is never acceptable
to compromise the safety of healthcare professionals.
The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) has undertaken a

systematic review addressing 3 questions 7:
1. Is the delivery of chest compressions or defibrillation an aerosol-generating

procedure?
2. Do the delivery of chest compressions, defibrillation or CPR (all CPR interventions
that include chest compressions) increase infection transmission?
3. What type of PPE is required by individuals delivering chest compressions,
defibrillation or CPR in order to prevent transmission of infection from the
patient to the rescuer?
The evidence addressing these questions is scarce and comprises mainly retrospective
cohort studies 8,9 and case reports.10-15 3

In most cases, delivery of chest compressions and defibrillation are lumped together
with all CPR interventions, which means that there is considerable confounding in
these studies. Aerosol generation by chest compressions is plausible because they
generate small but measurable tidal volumes.16 Chest compressions are similar to
some chest physiotherapy techniques, which are associated with aerosol generation.17
Furthermore, the person performing chest compressions is close to the patient’s
airway.
The ILCOR systematic review did not identify evidence that defibrillation generates
aerosols. If it occurs, the duration of an aerosol generating process would be brief.
Furthermore, the use of adhesive pads means that defibrillation can be delivered
without direct contact between the defibrillator operator and patient.
The ILCOR treatment recommendations are:
• W
e suggest that chest compressions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation have
the potential to generate aerosols (weak recommendation, very low certainty
evidence).
• W
e suggest that in the current COVID-19 pandemic lay rescuers* consider
compression-only resuscitation and public-access defibrillation (good practice
statement).
• W
e suggest that in the current COVID-19 pandemic, lay rescuers who are willing,
trained and able to do so, may wish to deliver rescue breaths to children in addition
to chest compressions (good practice statement).
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• W
e suggest that in the current COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals
should use personal protective equipment for aerosol-generating procedures
during resuscitation (weak recommendation, very low certainty evidence).
• W
e suggest that it may be reasonable for healthcare providers to consider
defibrillation before donning aerosol generating personal protective equipment
in situations where the provider assesses the benefits may exceed the risks (good
practice statement)
*Comment - it is the view of the ERC that this applies to first responders as well as lay
rescuers.
REFERENCES
1. Ma C, Gu J, Hou P, et al. Incidence, clinical characteristics and prognostic factor of patients
with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. medRxiv 2020.
2. Shao F, Xu S, Ma X, et al. In-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes among patients with COVID-19
pneumonia in Wuhan, China. Resuscitation 2020;151:18-23.
3. Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel
4
Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA 2020.

4. Gralton J, Tovey E, McLaws ML, Rawlinson WD. The role of particle size in aerosolised
pathogen transmission: a review. J Infect 2011;62:1-13.
5. Lee SA, Hwang DC, Li HY, Tsai CF, Chen CW, Chen JK. Particle Size-Selective Assessment of
Protection of European Standard FFP Respirators and Surgical Masks against Particles-Tested
with Human Subjects. J Healthc Eng 2016;2016.
6. Cook TM. Personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic - a narrative review.
Anaesthesia 2020.
7. Couper K, Taylor-Phillips S, Grove A, et al. COVID-19 in cardiac arrest and infection

risk to rescuers: a systematic review. Resuscitation 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
resuscitation.2020.04.022
8. Loeb M, McGeer A, Henry B, et al. SARS among critical care nurses, Toronto. Emerg Infect Dis
2004;10:251-5.
9. Raboud J, Shigayeva A, McGeer A, et al. Risk factors for SARS transmission from patients
requiring intubation: a multicentre investigation in Toronto, Canada. PLoS One 2010;5:e10717.
10. Liu B, Tang F, Fang LQ, et al. Risk factors for SARS infection among hospital healthcare workers
in Beijing: A case control study. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2009;14:52-9.
11. Chalumeau M, Bidet P, Lina G, et al. Transmission of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing

Staphylococcus aureus to a physician during resuscitation of a child. Clinical Infectious
Diseases 2005;41:e29-30.
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12. Christian MD, Loutfy M, McDonald LC, et al. Possible SARS coronavirus transmission during
cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Emerg Infect Dis 2004;10:287-93.
13. Kim WY, Choi W, Park SW, et al. Nosocomial transmission of severe fever with
thrombocytopenia syndrome in Korea. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2015;60:1681-3.
14. Knapp J, MA W, E. P. Transmission of tuberculosis during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Focus on breathing system filters. Notfall und Rettungsmedizin 2016;19:48-51.
15. Nam HS, Yeon MY, Park JW, Hong JY, Son JW. Healthcare worker infected with Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Korea, 2015. Epidemiol Health
2017;39:e2017052.
16. Deakin CD, O’Neill JF, Tabor T. Does compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation
generate adequate passive ventilation during cardiac arrest? Resuscitation 2007;75:53-9.
17. Simonds AK, Hanak A, Chatwin M, et al. Evaluation of droplet dispersion during non-invasive
ventilation, oxygen therapy, nebuliser treatment and chest physiotherapy in clinical practice:
implications for management of pandemic influenza and other airborne infections. Health
Technol Assess 2010;14:131-72.

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Section 2
Basic Life Support
in Adults
T. Olasveengen, M. Castrén, A. Handley, A. Kuzovlev,
KG. Monsieurs, G. Perkins, V. Raffay, G. Ristagno, F. Semeraro,
M. Smyth, J. Soar, H. Svavarsdóttir

The infection rates with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-
CoV-2) vary across Europe, and general recommendations for the treatment of
patients without confirmed COVID-19 may need to be adjusted based on local risk
assessments. For patients with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 the European
Resuscitation Council recommends the following changes to basic life support (BLS)
based on the recent ILCOR evidence review and commentary:1,2,3
General recommendations for BLS in adults by lay rescuers for suspected or confirmed
COVID-19
• C
ardiac arrest is identified if a person is unresponsive and not breathing
normally.
• R
esponsiveness is assessed by shaking the person and shouting. When assessing
breathing, look for normal breathing. In order to minimise the risk of infection, do
not open the airway and do not place your face next to the victims’ mouth / nose.
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• C
all the emergency medical services if the person is unresponsive and not
breathing normally.
• D
uring single-rescuer resuscitation, if possible, use a phone with a hands-free
option to communicate with the emergency medical dispatch centre during CPR .
• L ay rescuers should consider placing a cloth/towel over the person’s mouth and
nose before performing chest compressions and public-access defibrillation. This
may reduce the risk of airborne spread of the virus during chest compressions.
• L ay rescuers should follow instructions given by the emergency medical dispatch
centre.
• A
fter providing CPR, lay rescuers should, as soon as possible, wash their hands
thoroughly with soap and water or disinfect their hands with an alcohol-based
hand-gel and contact the local health authorities to enquire about screening after
having been in contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Recommendations for emergency medical dispatch staff for suspected or confirmed

COVID-19 in adults
• For untrained rescuers, provide compression-only instructions.
• G
uide rescuers to the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) when 7
available.

• T he risk of COVID-19 should be assessed by emergency medical dispatch as early
as possible; if there is a risk of infection, the responding healthcare personnel
should be alerted immediately to enable them to take precautions such as
donning airborne-precaution personal protective equipment (PPE).
• F irst responders or trained volunteers should be dispatched or alerted to medical
emergencies only if they have access to and training in the use of PPE. If first
responders or trained volunteers have only droplet-precaution PPE, they should
provide only defibrillation (if indicated), and no chest compressions, for patients
with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Recommendations for BLS in adults by healthcare personnel for suspected or

confirmed COVID-19
• T eams responding to cardiac arrest patients (both in- and out-of-hospital) should
be comprised only of healthcare workers with access to, and training in the use of
airborne-precaution PPE.
• A
pplying defibrillator pads and delivering a shock from an AED/defibrillator is
unlikely to be an aerosol-generating procedure and can be undertaken with the
healthcare provider wearing droplet-precaution PPE (fluid-resistant surgical mask,
eye protection, short-sleeved apron and gloves.
• R
ecognise cardiac arrest by looking for the absence of signs of life and the absence
of normal breathing.
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• H
ealthcare professionals should always use airborne-precaution PPE for aerosol-
generating procedures (chest compressions, airway and ventilation interventions)
during resuscitation.
• P
erform chest compressions and ventilation with a bag-mask and oxygen at a
30:2 ratio, pausing chest compressions during ventilations to minimise the risk of
aerosol. BLS teams less skilled or uncomfortable with bag-mask ventilation should
not provide bag-mask ventilation because of the risk of aerosol generation. These
teams should place an oxygen mask on the patient’s face, give oxygen and provide
compression-only CPR.
• U
se a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or a heat and moisture exchanger
(HME) filter between the self-inflating bag and the mask to minimize the risk of
virus spread.
• U
se two hands to hold the mask and ensure a good seal for bag-mask ventilation.
This requires a second rescuer – the person doing compressions can squeeze the
bag when they pause after each 30 compressions.
• Apply a defibrillator or an AED and follow any instructions where available.
8
REFERENCES

1. COVID-19 infection risk to rescuers from patients in cardiac arrest. https://costr.ilcor.org/
document/covid-19-infection-risk-to-rescuers-from-patients-in-cardiac-arrest (accessed April
19th 2020)
2. Couper K, Taylor-Phillips S, Grove A, Freeman K, Osokogu O, Court R, Mehrabian A, Morley

PT, Nolan JP, Soar J, Perkins GD. COVID-19 in cardiac arrest and infection risk to rescuers: a
systematic review Resuscitation https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.04.022
3. Perkins GD et al. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation: COVID-19 Consensus on

Science, Treatment Recommendations and Task Force Insights. Resuscitation 2020 in press
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Section 3
Advanced Life Support
in Adults
J. Soar, C. Lott, BW. Böttiger, P. Carli, K. Couper, CD. Deakin, T. Djärv,
T. Olasveengen, P. Paal, T. Pellis, GD. Perkins, C. Sandroni, JP. Nolan
T his guideline was provided on 24 April 2020 and will be subject to evolving 9

Introduction
The significant risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare staff mandates
changes to Advanced Life Support (ALS) guidelines.1–3 The guidance may change as
more is learnt about COVID-19 – Check the ERC website for the latest guidance (www.
erc.edu).
Safety is paramount and the safety priorities are: (1) self; (2) colleagues and bystanders;
(3) the patient. The time required to achieve safe care is an acceptable part of the
resuscitation process.
In-hospital cardiac arrest

1. Identify as early as possible any patients with a COVID-19 like illness, who are at
risk of acute deterioration or cardiac arrest. Take appropriate steps to prevent
cardiac arrest and avoid unprotected CPR.
2. Use of physiological track-and-trigger systems will enable early detection of
acutely ill patients.
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3. For those for whom resuscitation would be inappropriate, decisions must be

made and communicated. Patients with severe COVID-19 respiratory failure
who would not be deemed suitable for tracheal intubation and mechanical
ventilation or multiple organ support are extremely unlikely to survive
attempted resuscitation after cardiac arrest. For such patients, a do not
attempt CPR (DNACPR) decision is likely to be appropriate.
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be available to protect staff during
resuscitation attempts. It is acknowledged that this may cause a brief delay to
starting chest compressions, but the safety of staff is paramount.
5. Chest compressions have the potential to generate aerosols and airway
interventions are aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). Healthcare staff
should therefore don (put on) airborne-precaution personal protective
equipment (PPE) before starting chest compressions and /or airway
interventions; as a minimum a FFP3 mask (FFP2 or N95 if FFP3 not available),
eye and face protection, long-sleeved gown, and gloves before undertaking
these procedures.
6. Ensure there is a viral filter (heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter or high-
efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter) between the self-inflating bag and
airway (mask, supraglottic airway, tracheal tube) to filter exhaled breaths.
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7. Applying defibrillator pads and delivering a shock from an AED/defibrillator is

unlikely to be an aerosol-generating procedure and can be undertaken with
the healthcare provider wearing a fluid-resistant surgical mask, eye protection,
short-sleeved apron and gloves.
Sequence of actions for in-hospital cardiac arrest of a patient

with confirmed or suspected COVID-19
1. If a patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally shout for help/pull
emergency bell.
2. Check for signs of life/pulse. DO NOT listen for breaths or place your cheek near
to the patient’s face.
3. Send someone to place a COVID cardiac arrest call (2222 or equivalent local
number), and to bring a defibrillator.
4. If a defibrillator is immediately available, switch it on, apply the defibrillator
pads and deliver a shock if the rhythm is ventricular fibrillation/ pulseless
ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT). If the patient remains in VF/pVT, and if you are
wearing airborne-precaution PPE, start chest compressions. If not, give up to
two additional shocks (if indicated) while other healthcare workers are putting
on airborne-precaution PPE.
5. If using an AED, follow the prompts and deliver a shock if indicated; do not start
chest compressions until you are wearing airborne-precaution PPE for AGPs.
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6. Don (put on) airborne-precaution PPE (if not already on).

7. Do not proceed with chest compressions or airway interventions without
airborne-precaution PPE.
8. Restrict the number of staff in the room or at the bedside. Allocate a gatekeeper
to do this. All personnel not immediately needed should keep their distance
from the patient and remain protected.
9. If no signs of life, start chest compressions (continuous until bag-mask device
arrives).
10. If not on the patient already, place an oxygen mask and give oxygen. Leave the
mask on the patient until a bag-mask device arrives.
11. Once a bag-mask device arrives, proceed with a compression:ventilation ratio
of 30:2. Ensure there is a viral filter (HME filter or HEPA filter) between the self-
inflating bag and airway (mask, supraglottic airway, tracheal tube) to filter
exhaled breaths.
12. Manual ventilation with a bag-mask should be minimised and be performed
only by experienced staff using a 2-person technique because an ill-fitting
mask/poor seal will generate an aerosol. The person doing compressions can
pause to squeeze the bag. 11

13. Experienced airway staff should insert a supraglottic airway or intubate the
trachea early so that the period of bag-mask ventilation is minimised. Consider
videolaryngoscopy for tracheal intubation by providers familiar with its use –
this will enable the intubator to remain further from the patient’s mouth.
14. If a supraglottic airway has been inserted, use a 30:2 chest compression
ventilation ratio, pausing the chest compressions to enable ventilation. This
will minimise the risk of aerosol generation caused by gas leaking from the seal
between the supraglottic airway and larynx.
15. Consider stopping CPR early if treatable reversible causes of cardiac arrest have
been addressed.
16. If there is a need for prolonged CPR, consider the use of a mechanical chest
compression device in those settings that are familiar with its use.
17. Ensure the safe removal (‘doffing’) of PPE to prevent self-contamination.
18. Undertake a team debrief.
Resuscitation in intubated patients at the time of cardiac arrest

1. Rescuers should wear airborne-precaution PPE.
2. In the event of cardiac arrest in an intubated and mechanically ventilated
patient, to avoid aerosol generation, in general, do not disconnect the
ventilator circuit when starting CPR.
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3. Increase the FiO2 to 1.0 and set the ventilator to deliver 10 breaths a minute.
4. Quickly check the ventilator and circuit to ensure that they have not contributed
to the cardiac arrest, e.g. blocked filter, breath-stacking with high auto-PEEP, or
mechanical failure. Follow local guidance regarding ventilator disconnection
to minimise aerosol generation e.g. clamping the tube prior to disconnection,
use of viral filters etc.
Resuscitation in patients in the prone position

COVID-19 patients are often managed in the prone position because this can improve
oxygenation. Most of these patients will be intubated, but in some cases awake
unintubated COVID-19 patients may also be nursed in the prone position. In the event
of cardiac arrest in the unintubated, prone patient, whilst wearing the correct PPE,
immediately turn the patient supine before starting chest compressions. In the event
of cardiac arrest in an intubated patient who is prone, it is possible to deliver chest
compressions by pressing the patient’s back. This can provide some perfusion of vital
organs while a team prepares to turn the patient supine, as follows:
1. Rescuers should wear airborne-precaution PPE.
2. Compress between the scapulae (shoulder blades) at the usual depth and rate
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(5 to 6 cm at 2 compressions per second).

3. Turn patient supine if:
a. ineffective compressions – look at arterial line and aim for diastolic
pressure greater than 25 mmHg
b. interventions require the patient supine, e.g. for airway problems
c. u
nable to restore a circulation rapidly (minutes)
4. Turning the patient supine requires additional help – plan this early.
5. Defibrillator pad placement options in the prone position include:
a. Anterior-posterior (front and back), or
b. B
i-axillary (both armpits).
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Most of the principles described for the management of in-hospital cardiac arrest in
adults with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 also apply to ALS for such patients in
cardiac arrest out-of-hospital.
In the context of COVID-19, early recognition of cardiac arrest by the dispatcher will
enable emergency medical services (EMS) staff to put on airborne-precaution PPE as
soon as possible.
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REFERENCES
1. COVID-19 infection risk to rescuers from patients in cardiac arrest. https://costr.ilcor.org/
document/covid-19-infection-risk-to-rescuers-from-patients-in-cardiac-arrest.

3. Perkins GD et al. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation: COVID-19 Consensus on

Science, Treatment Recommendations and Task Force Insights. Resuscitation 2020 in press
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Section 4
Paediatric Basic and
P. Van de Voorde, D. Biarent, B. Bingham, O. Brissaud,
N. De Lucas, J. Djakow, F. Hoffmann, T. Lauritsen, AM. Martinez,
NM. Turner, I. Maconochie, KG. Monsieurs
T his guideline was provided on 24 April 2020 and will be subject to evolving 14

Introduction
Children are susceptible to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but often seem to
have only mild disease.1-7 Very young children and children with co-morbid diseases
may be more prone to severe illness.8 In the largest, currently-published, paediatric,
case-series (Chinese CDC 01/16 – 02/08; n=2143) 5.2% had severe disease (defined as
‘dyspnoea, central cyanosis and an oxygen saturation of less than 92%’), and 0.6%
had critical disease.9 However, many other pathogens and/or underlying aetiologies
might cause respiratory failure in children and a clear diagnosis may be difficult to
obtain.10
Taking this into account, the ERC paediatric guideline writing group [pWG] is aware
that any changes to resuscitation guidelines might have a significant impact on the
management and subsequent outcomes of critically ill children.11-13
These ‘temporary’ adaptations to the existing paediatric guidelines in the setting of

COVID-19 should be interpreted within the context of each healthcare system, e.g.
considering the degree of COVID-19 spread and evolving disease profile within that
region, and the overall impact on available resources. Given the limited evidence, the
following guidelines are mainly the result of expert consensus. They are based on the
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recent ILCOR systematic review, and on the existing guidelines from other societies
and councils, whilst including the data from existing paediatric clinical studies.8,14-20
Indirect evidence from adult studies or non-clinical papers (on pathophysiology etc.)
has also been considered in informing our final insights.
Protection of bystanders and healthcare

professionals
a. Healthcare systems should have procedures and necessary materials available for
the proper protection of their providers (healthcare professionals, first responders
etc.). This includes having personal protective equipment [PPE] and guidelines
on its use; having clear strategies on cohorting, testing and decontamination;
and having written protocols and dedicated teams for high-risk procedures.21
These procedures need to consider the different clinical contexts and
associated risks, as well as available resources. Strategies for implementation
in all settings, and ongoing (simulation) training is essential.
b. Healthcare providers should use PPE when treating a critically ill child who has
confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The type of PPE should be defined at ‘system’
level, proportionate to the presumed risk of transmission.17 To limit the risk
15
of transmission and conserve resources, only essential healthcare providers

should be involved on scene / in the room.
c. Lay bystanders should protect themselves as far as feasible and avoid actions with
a high risk of transmission. Rescuers who are caregivers or household members
of the child will probably have already been exposed to the virus, and are likely
to be more willing to provide support regardless of the potential increased risk.
d. Lay bystanders and healthcare providers must be aware of potential risks, and
the decision on when and how to intervene should be an individual one, but
only as far as it does not endanger another provider or bystander.
In approximately 70% of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, rescuers are likely

to be family members and therefore to have had previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (if
the child was infected). They might also consider their personal risk far less important
than the potential benefit for the child. This is unlikely to be true for random
bystanders. Healthcare providers may also value the benefit for the child higher than
their personal risk, but they should be aware of their responsibility towards their
relatives, colleagues and the wider community as well.23
Recognition of the critically ill child

The current advice for the recognition of the seriously ill child still holds, whether or
not the child has COVID-19.24 The ERC emphasises the importance of early recognition
of severe illness, initially by means of a quick hands-off observational assessment of
behaviour, breathing and bodily colour (e.g. as in the Paediatric Assessment Triangle)
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and subsequently, if needed, a comprehensive stepwise pathophysiology-based

ABCDE approach (see also topic 3 for the management of airway and breathing).25 There
are no clinical signs or biochemical parameters with good sensitivity or specificity for
COVID-19 in isolation.2,26-28 Providers should have a high level of suspicion for either
hypoxia or myocarditis, which can occur without other obvious clinical signs being
present. Teamwork is important in the management of any seriously ill or injured
child but the team size should be optimised at every stage (in view of effectiveness).
Airway & breathing management of a critically

child with potential COVID-19 infection
a. Open and maintain, if needed, the airway by means of positioning and, as far
as feasible, head tilt - chin lift (see also topic 4) or jaw thrust (in trauma or when
performing bag-mask ventilation [BMV]). Regardless of the child’s COVID-19
status, proper airway maintenance remains a crucial part of the respiratory
management of any critically ill or injured child (see also below).
b. Use supplemental oxygen early to support oxygenation (but avoid unnecessary
hyperoxia).30-31 Oxygen can be given by nasal cannula, a simple oxygen mask or
a non-rebreathing mask. Provide the patient with a surgical mask when using
16
any of these devices (in all patients for whom COVID-19 cannot be ruled out). If

needed, give medication via MDI/spacer instead of a nebuliser (even if in itself
not an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP), the latter may be associated with
a higher risk of disease transmission). High-flow nasal cannula oxygen, again
combined with a surgical mask, should be considered in those failing initial
low-flow oxygen therapy. COVID-19 patients may respond well to continuous
positive airways pressure (CPAP), potentially avoiding intubation.
c. Consider timely tracheal intubation to support oxygenation and ventilation
in patients that fail NIV, who have decompensated respiratory failure with
severe respiratory distress, or who are in cardiac arrest. If temporary bag-mask
ventilation (BMV) is required, aim for minimal leak during ventilation and
use a viral filter (heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter or high-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) filter) between mask and bag. If a single rescuer is unable
to create a tight mask seal, switch to a two-provider approach (the person
doing chest compressions can pause to squeeze the bag). A supraglottic
airway (SGA) may be considered by those experienced in their use, however it
is important to ensure a proper seal. Prevention of aerosol generation with a
SGA is less reliable than with a tracheal tube, but it may provide a better airway
seal than a facemask.31
d. Airway interventions must be performed by the most competent provider
available. Protocols should be in place for emergency and elective intubation
of all children potentially having COVID-19.16 Ideally, dedicated teams should
be pre-defined and specific intubation trolleys (with adequate PPE, including
face shields for staff involved) made available beforehand.17 Cuffed tracheal
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tubes are advised and providers should take care to inflate to a sufficient cuff
pressure (before the first insufflation). Competent providers should consider,
if available, the use of videolaryngoscopy instead of direct laryngoscopy, in
view of both operator safety and improved visualisation. In the setting of
CPR of these children, providers should pause chest compressions during an
intubation attempt.
There is a high risk of transmission of virus during all airway procedures including
tracheal intubation, inserting a supraglottic airway, performing BMV, non-invasive
ventilation, a tracheostomy, disconnecting the ventilatory circuit, in-line suctioning or
using an oro- or nasopharyngeal airway. These procedures demand that all providers
who are present in the room wear airborne-precaution PPE.16 Limit aerosol spread
by inserting a viral filter (heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter or high-efficiency
particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter) between the patient’s airway and breathing
circuit, and an additional filter on the expiratory limb of a ventilator; clamp the tube
and stop the ventilator before disconnecting; use a neuromuscular blocking drug to
prevent coughing; and use closed suction systems.
Recognition of cardiac arrest in children and BLS

algorithm 17

Check for responsiveness - in an unresponsive child, assess breathing visually (chest
rise) and optionally by placing a ‘hand on the belly’.32 Do not approach the victim’s
mouth or nose at this stage. Cardiac arrest is defined by ‘being unresponsive and
not breathing normally’. Untrained lay rescuers will likely have called the emergency
medical services [EMS] dispatcher (112/national emergency number) at the start;
trained providers should do so before starting chest compressions. In cases where
there are two or more rescuers, a second rescuer should call the EMS immediately.
Once cardiac arrest is identified, rescuers should provide at least compression-only

CPR. In such a case, place a surgical mask over the child’s mouth and nose before
commencing chest compressions. The routine use of a cloth as an alternative is not
advised because of the potential risk of airway obstruction and/or restriction of
passive air movement (due to compressions); there is also no evidence that a cloth
prevents airborne transmission. However, when a surgical mask is not available and
this cloth encourages rescuers to provide support where otherwise they would not,
they should use it (lightly draped over mouth and nose).
Unless a primary cardiac origin is likely (‘sudden witnessed collapse’), those rescuers
who are willing and able should also open the airway and provide rescue breaths, as
per 2015 guidelines, knowing that this is likely to increase the risk of infection (if the
child has COVID-19), but can significantly improve the outcome (see ‘Protection of
bystanders and healthcare professionals’).24, 31
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When an automated external defibrillator [AED] is readily available, trained providers

should use it as soon as feasible. An AED should primarily be advised as part of
dispatcher-assisted CPR in those cases where the likelihood of a primary shockable
rhythm is sufficiently high: in cases of sudden witnessed collapse; for children with a
specific ‘cardiac’ history; or for children older than 1y of age without any identifiable
non-cardiac cause of arrest, always provided there are at least two bystanders and an
AED nearby.
Pre-hospital EMS or in-hospital ALS teams must wear airborne-precaution PPE

before arriving at the patient’s side, unless COVID-19 has been ruled out, even if it
delays commencing or continuing CPR (see ”Protection of bystanders and healthcare
professionals”).17 Protocols should be in place to facilitate this and to minimise delays.
Personnel wearing only droplet-precaution PPE may consider providing initial
defibrillation before putting on airborne-precaution PPE in children with an identified
shockable rhythm. Once wearing airborne- precaution PPE, perform CPR according to
the 2015 algorithms. Do not delay CPR in order to secure an invasive airway. Provide
initial ventilations with a bag-mask (see ‘Airway & breathing management of a critically
child with potential COVID-19 infection’).
Communicate the child’s COVID-19 status to all providers involved (see also ERC
COVID-19 Guidelines on Ethics). 18

Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO)
The existing guidelines still hold good for the management of FBAO regardless of
the presumed COVID-19 status.24 Most often, rescuers will be caregivers or household
members of the child and thus have only limited risk. In cases where the cough is
still considered effective, bystanders or providers should encourage coughing
whilst keeping proper distance. Do not put a surgical mask on the child at this stage.
Bystanders should call the EMS dispatch centre early on, especially if coughing
threatens to become ineffective.

a. In children with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, ALS teams must wear
appropriate PPE before arriving at the patient’s side. Keep teams as small as
possible but without compromising efficacy.
b. If a defibrillator is immediately available, switch it on, apply the defibrillator
pads and deliver a shock if the rhythm is ventricular fibrillation/pulseless
ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT). If the child remains in VF/pVT, and if wearing
airborne-precaution PPE, start chest compressions. If not wearing airborne-
precaution PPE, give up to two additional shocks (if indicated) while other
healthcare workers are putting on airborne-precaution PPE.17,31
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c. Early identification and proper treatment of any reversible causes during CPR is
important. Some of these reversible causes demand ‘advanced’ resuscitation
techniques: consider early transport to a centre capable of performing this
for children. There is insufficient evidence to advocate for or against the use
of extracorporeal life support for children with COVID-19. In settings where
this facility is available, providers should balance the use of such advanced
resources with the likelihood of a good outcome for the individual patient.
Ethics of resuscitation in children during the COVID

pandemic
For this we refer to the dedicated ERC COVID-19 Guidelines on Ethics. The ethical
principles and guidance do not differ essentially between adults and children.
REFERENCES
1. Lu X, Zhang L, Du H, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children [published online ahead of print,
2020 Mar 18]. N Engl J Med. 2020; NEJMc2005073.
2. She J, Liu L, Liu W. COVID-19 epidemic: Disease characteristics in children [published online
19
ahead of print, 2020 Mar 31]. J Med Virol. 2020;10.1002/jmv.25807

3. Hong H, Wang Y, Chung HT, Chen CJ. Clinical characteristics of novel coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) in newborns, infants and children. Pediatr Neonatol. 2020;61(2):131–132
4. Ludvigsson JF. Systematic review of COVID-19 in children shows milder cases and a better
prognosis than adults [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 23]. Acta Paediatr.
2020;10.1111/apa.15270
5. Cruz AT, Zeichner SL. COVID-19 in Children: Initial Characterization of the Pediatric Disease
[published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 16]. Pediatrics. 2020; e20200834
6. Tagarro A, Epalza C, Santos M, et al. Screening and Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) in Children in Madrid, Spain [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 8]. JAMA
Pediatr. 2020;e201346
7. Cristiani L, Mancino E, Matera L, et al. Will children reveal their secret? The coronavirus
dilemma [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 2]. Eur Respir J. 2020;2000749
8. Denis et al, Transdisciplinary insights – Livin Paper Rega Institute Leuven Belgium; https://
rega.kuleuven.be/if/corona_covid-19; accessed 05 April 2020
9. Dong Y, Mo X, Hu Y, et al. Epidemiology of COVID-19 Among Children in China [published

online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 16]. Pediatrics. 2020; e20200702
10. Liu W, Zhang Q, Chen J, et al. Detection of COVID-19 in Children in Early January 2020 in
Wuhan, China. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(14):1370–1371
11. Bouffet E, Challinor J, Sullivan M, Biondi A, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Pritchard-Jones K. Early

advice on managing children with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and a call for
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sharing experiences [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 2]. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020;
e28327
12. He Y, Lin Z, Tang D, Yang Y, Wang T, Yang M. Strategic plan for management of COVID-19 in
paediatric haematology and oncology departments [published online ahead of print, 2020
Apr 1]. Lancet Haematol. 2020;S2352-3026(20)30104-6
13. Schiariti V. The human rights of children with disabilities during health emergencies: the
challenge of COVID-19 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 30]. Dev Med Child Neurol.
2020;10.1111/dmcn.14526

15. Resuscitation council UK statements; url: https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/

resuscitation-council-uk-statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/; accessed
05 April 2020
16. Cook TM, El-Boghdadly K, McGuire B, McNarry AF, Patel A, Higgs A. Consensus guidelines for
managing the airway in patients with COVID-19: Guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society,
the Association of Anaesthetists the Intensive Care Society, the Faculty of Intensive Care
Medicine and the Royal College of Anaesthetists [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar
20
27]. Anaesthesia. 2020;10.1111/anae.15054

17. WHO guidelines; url: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331695/WHO-2019-nCov-
IPC_PPE_use-2020.3-eng.pdf; accessed 20 April 2020
18. Edelson DP, Sasson C, Chan PS, et al. Interim Guidance for Basic and Advanced Life Support in
Adults, Children, and Neonates With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19: From the Emergency
Cardiovascular Care Committee and Get With the Guidelines®-Resuscitation Adult and
Pediatric Task Forces of the American Heart Association in Collaboration with the American
Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Respiratory Care, American College of
Emergency Physicians, The Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, and American Society
of Anesthesiologists: Supporting Organizations: American Association of Critical Care Nurses
and National EMS Physicians [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 9]. Circulation.
2020;10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047463
19. ESPNIC guidelines; url: https://espnic-online.org/COVID-19-Outbreak/Recommendations;

accessed 05 April 2020
20. Dutch Resuscitation council guidelines; url: https://www.reanimatieraad.nl/coronavirus-en-

reanimatie/; accessed 05 April 2020
21. WHO technical guidance; url: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-

coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance; accessed 05 April 2020
22. Ott M, Krohn A, Jaki C, Schilling T, Heymer J. CPR and COVID-19: Aerosol-spread during chest
compressions. Zenodo (2020, April 3); http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739498
23. Chan PS, Berg RA, Nadkarni VM. Code Blue During the COVID-19 Pandemic [published
online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 7]. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2020;10.1161/
CIRCOUTCOMES.120.006779
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24. Maconochie IK, Bingham R, Eich C, et al. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for
Resuscitation 2015: Section 6. Paediatric life support. Resuscitation. 2015;95:223–248
25. Fernandez A, Benito J, Mintegi S. Is this child sick? Usefulness of the Pediatric Assessment
Triangle in emergency settings. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017;93 Suppl 1:60–67
26. Sun D, Li H, Lu XX, et al. Clinical features of severe pediatric patients with coronavirus disease
2019 in Wuhan: a single center’s observational study [published online ahead of print, 2020
Mar 19]. World J Pediatr. 2020;10.1007/s12519-020-00354-4
27. Henry BM, Lippi G, Plebani M. Laboratory abnormalities in children with novel coronavirus
disease 2019 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 16]. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2020;/j/cclm.
ahead-of-print/cclm-2020-0272/cclm-2020-0272.xml
28. Giwa A, Desai A. Novel coronavirus COVID-19: an overview for emergency clinicians. Emerg
Med Pract. 2020;22(2 Suppl 2):1–21
29. url: https://rebelem.com/covid-19-hypoxemia-a-better-and-still-safe-way/; accessed 05 April

2020
30. url: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0086_

Specialty-guide_-Paediatric-critical-care-v1.pdf; accessed 05 April 2020
31. ILCOR practical guidance for implementation – COVID 19; url: https://www.ilcor.org/covid-19;
21
accessed 12 April 2020

32. Derkenne C, Jost D, Thabouillot O, et al. Improving emergency call detection of Out-of-
Hospital Cardiac Arrests in the Greater Paris area: Efficiency of a global system with a new
method of detection. Resuscitation. 2020; 146:34–42
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Section 5
Newborn Life Support
J. Madar, C. Roehr, S. Ainsworth, H. Ersdal, C. Morley,
M. Rüdiger, C. Skåre, T. Szczapa, A. te Pas, D. Trevisanuto,
B. Urlesberger, D. Wilkinson, J. Wyllie
22

Introduction
Case series suggest the risk of vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at birth is unlikely and that there is a low risk of
babies being infected at birth even if born to a confirmed coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) positive mother.1,2
Maternal infection with COVID-19 may increase the risk of premature labour and
there appears to be a tendency for more deliveries to be via caesarean section with
foetal compromise cited as an indication3. Concerns about maternal health may also
prompt a decision to deliver4,5. The necessary obstetric precautions against viral
exposure may increase the time taken to deliver compromised babies by caesarean
section. However, babies do not appear significantly more compromised at birth in
the presence of maternal COVID-19 3
The indications for the attendance of a neonatal team in advance, and the clinical
factors which might prompt resuscitation remain unchanged whatever the maternal
COVID-19 status.
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The sequence of assessment and any subsequent resuscitation/stabilisation remain

unchanged and follow standard Newborn Life Support (NLS) principles. 6
Changes to the standard approach should be made to reduce the risk of COVID-19
cross infection for staff and the baby.
Departments should have clear local guidelines on the prevention of COVID-19

transmission and sufficient quantities of suitable personal protective equipment
(PPE) must be available in all birthing areas. Staff must be familiar with the guidelines
and trained in the appropriate use of PPE.
• Local recommendations may take the regional prevalence of COVID-19 into

account.
• W
here maternal COVID-19 is not clinically suspected, staff should follow local
or national guidelines for PPE, which may include the routine use of droplet-
precaution PPE (fluid-resistant surgical mask/visor/short-sleeved gown and
gloves) for any attendance.
• W
here maternal COVID-19 is suspected/confirmed, staff must attend in full
airborne-precaution PPE (FFP3 mask or FFP2 if FFP3 not available/visor/long-
sleeved apron and gloves). 23

As further information becomes available the current ERC recommendations may
change.
Delivery area
Significant numbers of asymptomatic mothers may be infected with COVID-19
at birth7. Whilst it is recommended that a designated area be identified for the
delivery of mothers with symptoms suggestive of infection or confirmed COVID-19
positive status, it may not be feasible to segregate all such mothers. Therefore, take
appropriate precautions and wear PPE when attending all deliveries.
Ideally, delivery of a baby from a COVID-19 suspected/positive mother should take

place in a negative-pressure room, but these facilities may not be available in all
delivery or operating rooms. As a minimum precaution, resuscitation of the baby
should ideally take place at least 2m from the mother in order to minimise the risk
of droplet spread (the risk from airborne spread still exists).8 Provision of a mask for
the mother may reduce droplet spread, and consideration might be given to having
a partition or the resuscitation area in an adjacent room separate from the delivery
area if this is possible 5.
Operating rooms are considered to be an area with a higher risk of droplet or airborne
spread because of the nature of the procedures carried out on mother (airway
management, diathermy etc.).
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Pre-delivery discussions with suspected or

confirmed COVID-19 positive parents
Depending on hospital policy the mother may be unescorted. Opportunities for
pre-delivery discussion of management may be limited. Droplet precaution PPE is
required for face-to-face consultation. Video consultation may be an alternative to
reduce contact. If the neonatal team is unable to counsel the family then the obstetric/
midwifery team may need to undertake such discussions.
Neonatal team attending in advance

(for suspected or COVID-19 positive mother)
Check and prepare the resuscitation area before the mother is in the room. Where a
neonatal team is called in advance, careful planning is required to minimise the number
who enter the room. The team should include someone experienced in newborn
resuscitation and interventional procedures. Additional team members may be required
to help with PPE. Facilities for safely putting on and taking off PPE need to be in place.
Handling PPE may incur delays, especially should urgent extra assistance be required,
24
and this should be considered in the preparation of the team. If the resuscitation area is

in the same room as the mother, and it is unclear that intervention will be required, then
the neonatal team may choose to wait outside and only enter if needed. Full airborne-
precaution PPE will be required for anyone entering the room. Team members should
put on PPE in advance although if waiting outside they may choose to leave off their
masks/visors until it is clear they are required to attend the baby.
Delivery
There are no changes to the immediate management of the newborn following
delivery in the presence of suspected/confirmed COVID-19 infection. Delayed cord
clamping should still be considered. Initial assessment of the baby may take place on
the perineum provided extra care is taken.5,9,10
The baby should only be passed to the neonatal team if intervention is needed, babies
doing well stay with mother and the neonatal team may be able to avoid exposure.
eonatal team called after delivery (of a suspected

N
or confirmed COVID-19 positive mother)
Staff attending any delivery need to be able to successfully initiate the resuscitation
of a compromised baby before the neonatal team arrives. Help should be called for
early, as the need for the neonatal team to put on full airborne-precaution PPE may
cause a delay in being able to attend the baby.
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Approach to resuscitation/stabilisation
The approach to resuscitation/stabilisation follows standard NLS recommendations6.
Take measures to minimise potential COVID-19 exposure. A wet towel must be

considered contaminated and removed with care. A high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filter might be considered between T-piece/self-inflating bag and mask,11
although evidence of infection of the respiratory tract at birth and subsequent
viral spread from aerosols generated through devices or procedures has not yet
been described. Two-person airway support reduces mask leakage and is preferred
where sufficient staff with appropriate PPE are available. Minimise potential aerosol
generating procedures (AGPs) such as suction and ensure that the most experienced
team member carries out any advanced airway manoeuvres.5
Post resuscitation care

Decisions to separate a COVID-19 positive mother and her baby should follow local
guidance. Generally, a baby should stay with their mother if she is well enough. If
observations are required, they may be carried out by midwifery staff. Skin-to-skin
25
care and breast feeding may be possible if adequate precautions are taken including

strict hand hygiene and a fluid resistant surgical mask for the mother to reduce the
risk of droplet spread.12,13
Should the baby require admission we recommend that transfer takes place in a
closed incubator. Minimise exposure of the incubator to the contaminated area; it
may be kept out of the delivery area/operating room if the resuscitation area is in
the same room and the baby carried to it. Staff escorting the baby to the neonatal
unit should consider wearing full airborne precaution PPE where they might need to
intervene during the transfer although AGPs should be avoided outside controlled
areas such as the neonatal unit if at all possible. If the team moving the baby is the
same as that attending the delivery, consider changing PPE before moving because
that used in the delivery area will be contaminated
Following resuscitation, isolate the baby until its COVID-19 status is known.
A team debrief is suggested to support staff and help improve future performance.
Postnatal deterioration and resuscitation

Where the cause of a deterioration or collapse is unknown, consider the possibility
of infection with COVID-19. A high local incidence of disease or confirmed COVID-19
infection in the mother should prompt a higher index of suspicion.
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Any resuscitation should take place in a designated area to minimise the risk of cross-
infection. Assessment and resuscitation follow standard NLS principles regardless of
circumstances.
Those undertaking initial assessment and support should as a minimum use

droplet-precaution PPE. Any staff attending subsequently should wear full airborne-
precaution PPE as it may be necessary to undertake AGPs. If intubation is necessary,
consider videolaryngoscopy.
evel of PPE for postnatal collapse and the provision

L
of respiratory support
Ideally respiratory support should not be delayed. Mask ventilation and cardiac
compressions are considered AGPs in all age groups outside the immediate newborn
period 14,15. There is as yet no published evidence that resuscitative measures during
postnatal collapse are associated with increased risk of infection. Nevertheless, due to
the heightened concerns of cross infection, full airborne-precaution PPE should be used
whenever possible if attending a postnatally collapsed baby in these circumstances.
Decisions on providing breathing support in the absence of full airborne-precaution PPE
26
need to be made with the understanding that there may be a small but as yet undefined

risk of COVID-19 exposure.
REFERENCES
1. Chen H, Guo J, Wang C, Luo F, Yu X et al. Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical
transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women: a retrospective review
of medical records. Lancet 2020; 395: 809-815
2. Schwartz D. Analysis of 38 pregnant women with CV19, their newborn infants, and maternal
fetal transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Maternal Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy outcomes.
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine 2020 in press; DOI 10.5858/arpa.2020-0901-SA
3. Zaigham M, Andersson O. Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes with COVID-19: a systematic

review of 108 pregnancies. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 2020 in press; DOI.
org/10.1111/aogs.13867
4. Chen Y, Peng H, Wang L, Zhao Y, Zeng L, Gao H Liu Y Infants born to Mothers with a new
Corona virus (COVID 19) Front Ped 2020; 8:104 DOI 10.3389/fped.2020.00104
5. Chandrasekharan P, Vento M, Trevisanuto D, Partridge E, Underwood M et al. Neonatal

resuscitation and post resuscitation care of infants born to mothers with suspected or
confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. AmJPerinatol 2020 online DOI 10.1055/s-0040-1709688
6. Wyllie J, Bruinenberg J, Roehr C, Rüdiger M, Trevisanuto D, Urlesberger B. European

Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015: Section 7. Resuscitation and support
of transition of babies at birth. Resuscitation 2015; 95: 249-263
7. Sutton D, Fuchs K, D’Alton M, Goffman D. Universal Screening for SARS-CoV-2 in Women

Admitted for Delivery NEJM 2020 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2009316
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8. Cook T. Personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic - a narrative review.
Anaesthesia 2020 in press. DOI 10.1111/anae.15071
9. RCOG Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in pregnancy. Information for healthcare

professionals April 2020. https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-04-
17-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-in-pregnancy.pdf
10. BAPM - COVID-19 - guidance for neonatal settings April 2020 - https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/
resources/covid-19-guidance-neonatal-settings#neonatal-team-attendance-in-labour-suite
11. Ng P, So K, Leung T, Cheng F, Lyon D et al. Infection control for SARS in a tertiary neonatal
centre. ADC 2003; 88(5) F405-409.
12. Davanzo R. Breast feeding at the time of COVID-19 do not forget expressed mother’s milk
please ADC 2020 F1 epub ahead of print DOI 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319149
13. WHO. Breastfeeding advice during the COVID-19 outbreak. 2020 http://www.emro.who.int/
nutrition/nutrition-infocus/breastfeeding-advice-during-covid-19-outbreak.html
14. Cook T, El-Boghdadly K, McGuire B, McNarry A, Patel A et al. anae Consensus guidelines for
managing the airway in patients with COVID-19: Guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society,
the Association of Anaesthetists the Intensive Care Society, the Faculty of Intensive Care
Medicine and the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Anaesthesia 2020 DOI 10.1111/anae.15054
27

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Section 6
Education
C. Lott, F. Carmona, P. Van de Voorde, A. Lockey, A. Kuzovlev,
J. Breckwoldt, JP. Nolan, KG. Monsieurs, J. Madar, N. Turner,
A. Scapigliati, L. Pflanzl-Knizacek, P. Conaghan, D. Biarent,
R. Greif
28

The severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has
shifted the focus from patient safety to healthcare worker safety in (peri-) arrest
situations. The increased infection risk for the rescuer modifies treatment approaches
- this includes suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, delays in
initiating resuscitation may cost the lives of those patients in cardiac arrest.
High-quality lifesaving CPR is still required during a pandemic and resuscitation

training in some form remains important. Education in resuscitation is essential
to provide proper treatment for cardiac arrest patients by improving resuscitation
knowledge, CPR skills and patient-centred care. The fundamental educational
strategies that change the rescuer’s behaviour remain valid, especially during
the current pandemic 1; 2. Resuscitation training programmes need to include the
emergency management of all patients (COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 infected) and
the application of personal protective equipment (PPE) beyond the standard CPR-
measures described in existing ERC educational programmes:
• Basic life Support (P*BLS/BLS)
• Newborn Life Support (NLS)
• Immediate Life Support (EP*ILS) and Advanced Life Support (EP*ALS)
• Basic Instructor Course (BIC) and Generic Instructor Course (GIC)
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The well-established interdisciplinary team training in ERC CPR courses remains most
important because it is associated with better patient outcomes 3 and may reduce
the risk of contamination of providers when performing life support activities in
COVID-19 patients.
This educational guidance considers the infection risk for instructors and candidates
during a pandemic, especially as most of them are healthcare workers, essential for the
system. Therefore, all local and international guidelines and preventive regulations
need to be applied with rigor: personal distance, protective use of masks, clothing
and gear. The role of distance learning, self-directed learning, augmented and virtual
learning will become much more important in CPR teaching.
eneral guidance for education in CPR during the

G
pandemic
• E ducation in CPR is crucial for the survival of patients in cardiac arrest; therefore
life support teaching programmes need to resume as soon as possible.
• T hese life support teaching programmes must include specific interventions for
COVID-19 patients focusing on infection prevention whilst being adaptable for 29
local needs and requirements.

• S elf-protection and measures against infection (equipment and procedures) have
to be part of CPR education.
• O
n-site teaching facilities need to be modified to avoid transmission of SARS-
CoV-2 virus:
• Candidates and instructors who are symptomatic should not attend
courses.
• Strict distance regulations – keep a minimum of 2 m distance between
single persons.
• Candidates and instructors should wear surgical face masks throughout
the course.
• During hands-on sessions when practising on a manikin, candidates and
instructors should wear PPE which should be kept throughout the course.
• Manikins and equipment should be cleaned following every single
training session (or scenario) using disinfectant compatible with the
materials.
• Reduce the number of candidates working at one manikin at the same
time to the absolute minimum, structuring the teams as in reality.
• Keep sufficient space (2 m) around the manikin using coloured tape on
the ground.
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• Course programmes should be rearranged to avoid simultaneous breaks

for different groups.
• Whenever possible, and where applicable, teaching methods such as distance

learning, self-directed learning, augmented and virtual learning should be
implemented.
• Beyond the current team training (focusing on non-technical skills), specific
education on human factors (e.g. briefing and debriefing, restrictions of leadership,
and communication wearing PPE) during CPR in the pandemic should be provided
as hands-on training in small group teaching sessions.
• During hands-on, small-group teaching, candidates and instructors should
use standard PPE (minimum: eye protection, mask, gloves, gown). The specific
differences in performing CPR wearing PPE are part of CPR educational
programmes and should be practised, including doffing and donning in a “buddy”
system.
• Course organisers should provide sufficient PPE to run courses; this will depend on
the local availability and circumstances.
• Plenary sessions will initially be replaced by small group workshops, in the long-
term e-learning content and webinars should be developed. 30

• Group size for hands-on training should not exceed 6 candidates and they should
remain in the same groups throughout the course. Any social programmes, get
togethers, formal and informal break meetings intended to strengthen the team
building process, should be suspended during the pandemic.
• Sufficient disinfectant and hand-washing facilities should be made available.
• The validity of all ERC certificates has already been extended for one year to reduce
pressure on candidates and instructors.
• Balancing the risk of infection (as CPR is an aerosol-generating procedure spreading
the virus) against the benefit of CPR with the chance to save a life, should be part
of the educational programmes.
• In case of limited resources for teaching CPR during this COVID-19 pandemic,
those with close contact with COVID-19 patients and the risk of cardiac arrest
should be trained first, followed by those with the longest gap in CPR teaching.
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Basic courses during the COVID-19 pandemic

a) BLS education for laypeople
• D
uring the pandemic, the ERC does not recommend face-to-face, hands-on BLS
teaching for laypeople, and especially no mass training.
• D
uring the pandemic, for BLS education for laypeople the ERC recommends
individual self-directed learning, apps and Virtual Reality resources for BLS as they
are available and proven to be effective to learn chest compressions and the use
of an AED. This format is very suitable for BLS education for laypeople who wish
to master BLS in cardiac arrest and for keeping up-to-date with refresher training.
• S elf-directed learning or distance learning will reduce the infection risk for both
candidates and instructors.
• Internet-based tutorials and video instruction are a suitable alternative, but the
ERC does not have evidence about its effectiveness in learning BLS.
• The focus of BLS education for laypeople during the pandemic is on chest
compressions and the use of an AED while minimising the risk of infection during
that lifesaving help. No check of respiration and no ventilation will be taught
31
• S elf-learning stations are intended to teach and test BLS competences without

supervision, and should not be used because of the risk of transmitting infection
b) BLS education for professionals (additional to the points before)
• F or professionals, self-directed learning or distance learning has the potential

to reduce the infection risk for both candidates and instructors. It is feasible and
effective.
• T he ERC suggests self-directed learning for those professionals who have a duty
to respond but who rarely treat cardiac arrest patients. For this group of rescuers,
the educational focus is on chest compressions , the proper use of an AED, and the
donning (putting-on) PPE as soon as possible.
• P
rofessionals who have to provide BLS regularly should be educated in the
donning and doffing of PPE, chest compression, use of an AED, and bag-mask
ventilation with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter between the mask
and bag. Practice in small groups with PPE is possible.
• N
o check for breathing and no mouth to mouth/nose ventilations should be
taught during the pandemic as these skills present an increased risk for infection.
• Face shields do not have sufficiently effective viral filters and should not be used.

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dvanced courses during the COVID-19 pandemic

A
(addressing only healthcare professionals with the
duty to attend cardiac arrest patients)
• W
here available, virtual learning environments should be used to teach advanced
life support knowledge, and behavioural- and infection-prevention strategies. This
will reduce the duration of hands-on sessions.
• D
uring the pandemic the candidate/instructor ratio in advanced ERC courses may
be modified to a maximum of 6:1 (instead of 3:1).
• C
PR procedures should be practised with an emphasis on the specific
considerations of using PPE
• Donning (putting on PPE), doffing (taking off PPE)
• Communication
• Use of specific equipment
• Special circumstances should include the pandemic, and comprise the
management of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients in the prone position.
32
• In cases when social distancing and overcrowding cannot be guaranteed,

continuous assessment may be preferred over summative assessment to avoid
pooling of candidates.
• F aculty meetings during advanced life courses should be minimised, keeping
sufficient personal distance to minimise the risk of infection. Before and after
courses, internet-based faculty meetings are encouraged.
Instructor education during the COVID-19 pandemic

• I nstructor education in the form of the ERC Basic Instructor Course (BIC) or Generic
Instructor Course (GIC) should be paused during the pandemic, as these courses
are not essential for patient care. Instructor-Potential (IP) validity will be extended
with one year during the pandemic.
• Information about teaching BLS and ALS during this pandemic will be provided
to ERC instructors, course directors and educators in reading and internet-based
sessions.
• Instructor-Candidates (ICs) will have an extension of one year to fulfil their
requirements to become an ERC instructor.
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REFERENCES
1. Greif R, Lockey AS, Conaghan P, Lippert A, De Vries W, Monsieurs KG; Education and
implementation of resuscitation section Collaborators. European Resuscitation Council
Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015: Section 10. Education and implementation of resuscitation.
Resuscitation 2015; 95:288-301
2. Cheng A, Nadkarni VM, et al. American Heart Association Education Science Investigators and
on behalf of the American Heart Association Education Science and Programs Committee,
Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Council on
Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research.
Resuscitation Education Science: Educational Strategies to Improve Outcomes from Cardiac
Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2018
7;138:e82-e122
3. Yeung J., Ong G., Davies R., Gao F., Perkins G. Factors affecting team leadership skills and their
relationship with quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Crit Care Med 2012; 40:2617–2621
33

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Section 7
Ethics and
End-of-Life Decisions
P. Van de Voorde, L. Bossaert, S. Mentzelopoulos, MT. Blom,
K. Couper, J. Djakow, P. Druwé, G. Lilja, I. Lulic, V. Raffay,
GD. Perkins, KG. Monsieurs
knowledge and experience of COVID-19. As countries are at different stages 34

KEY MESSAGES
A
ny ‘temporary’ adaptations to existing guidelines should be
interpreted within the context of each healthcare system, taking into
consideration the prevalence of COVID-19, the available resources,
etc. Our knowledge about COVID-19 is still limited and guidelines
may need to be updated as more data become available.
T he general principles of ethics in resuscitation remain valid. Where

possible, advance care planning should be considered.1 This may
be particularly challenging in the context of the current COVID-19
pandemic due to knowledge gaps, social distancing measures), etc.
We consider cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to be a ‘conditional’
treatment and suggest criteria for withholding or withdrawing
resuscitation. Implementation of these criteria within a healthcare
system will depend on the local context (legal, cultural, and
organisational).
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KEY MESSAGES
Healthcare teams should carefully assess for each individual patient
their chances of survival and/or ‘good’ long-term outcome, and their
expected use of resources. As these are not static facts, such evaluation
should be reviewed on a regular basis. We advise against the use of
categorical or ‘blanket’ criteria (e.g. age thresholds) to determine the
‘eligibility’ of a patient to receive or not receive certain resources.
T he key challenge with resuscitation during the COVID-19 pandemic

is the difficulty of reliably balancing the risk for the provider and
the potential benefit for the patient. Whilst doing their best for an
individual patient, healthcare providers should equally be aware
of their responsibility towards their relatives, colleagues, and the
wider community. Healthcare providers (including first responders)
should use personal protective equipment (PPE) for all patients
with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The type of PPE should
be defined at system level, proportionate to the presumed risk of
transmission. Whilst protocols may be adjusted locally to the current 35
reality of the pandemic, if excess morbidity and mortality from

delayed CPR is to be avoided, it is imperative that we continue to
provide dispatcher-assisted CPR and recruit, train and/or dispatch lay
rescuers and first responders to CA.
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a worldwide crisis, causing significant morbidity
and mortality in many regions. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is highly contagious and, without
population immunity, substantially deadlier than seasonal Influenza, especially in
those most vulnerable.2 COVID-19 is a ‘new’ disease and, despite a lot of recently
published studies, our knowledge about it is still very limited.
Many concomitant risks have been identified that might put further pressure on the
already strained healthcare system and potentially lead to excess mortality:3,4
• W
hen many people become ill at the same time, the demand for resources may
significantly exceed resource availability. This includes, among others, critical care
beds, ventilators, medicines, test materials and personal protective equipment
(PPE).
• H
ealthcare workers are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, creating
additional challenges in providing adequate staffing for both direct patient care
and support work.
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• D
isruptions to the healthcare system (because of insufficient resources, decreased
delivery of non-COVID related care and, importantly, exaggerated fear) will also
affect the care for patients with other medical problems, both acute and chronic.
Eventually this could lead to more morbidity and mortality than caused by
COVID-19 itself.5
In view of the above, the ERC Ethics writing group [WG] identified a clear need for
ethical guidance. We are very much aware that important changes to resuscitation
guidelines might have a significant and potentially long-lasting impact on subsequent
outcomes.
Any ‘temporary’ adaptations of the existing guidelines should always be interpreted
within the context of each healthcare system and take into account factors such
as the prevalence of COVID-19 within a region, and the overall impact on available
resources. Given the limited evidence available, most of the following statements are
the result of expert consensus. They are based on the very recent ILCOR systematic
review on the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to rescuers during resuscitation, on
existing guidelines from other societies and councils and recent, mostly observational,
clinical studies.4,6-12 Indirect evidence from non-clinical papers, such as those on
pathophysiology, also informed our final ‘insights’.
36
Healthcare organisation during the COVID-19

pandemic
Based on the principles of beneficence, justice and equity, each individual patient
should have access to the current standard of care. However, the harm-benefit for the
individual patient needs to be balanced with those for the whole of society. Especially
when demand for healthcare resources exceeds capacity, this may mean providing
the best possible medical support to the maximum number of people (distributive
justice).12-13
Whilst healthcare systems should essentially strive to help all those whom they serve,
and be well-prepared to do so, the extent of the crisis is such that it could overwhelm
the current existing resources in certain regions.2,14 When there is a clear imbalance
between resource needs and capacity available, policies of resource allocation and
distribution should be developed at system level (for example government, national
agencies) rather than by individual institutions or healthcare providers.
Such policies should be informed by both healthcare professionals from different
background and experts in medical ethics, law, economics and sociology. Special
attention should be given to vulnerable populations who, despite a higher risk of
contracting the disease, are more at risk of ‘unjustified discrimination’.13, 15-16 The
effectiveness of any measure will depend on the trust in, and credibility of public
health authorities, political leaders, and institutions.14, 17-18 In view of this, fully
transparent, fact-based communication is crucial.
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Ethical decision making when resources are lacking

Ethical decision making in disasters, by definition, demands a specific approach,
especially when there is a major imbalance between resource availability and
resource needs.8, 19-21 In such a situation, decisions are typically based upon contextual
parameters (safety, accessibility, availability and ability), as well as the expected
individual patient outcomes.14 It is fundamental that all patients receive care according
to best standards as long as reasonably possible, but once this can no longer be
guaranteed, prioritisation should include all patients needing resources, regardless
of whether they became ill or injured as a direct consequence of the disaster or from
any other cause.
The initial phase of the current pandemic has shown that the surge capacity of a
certain healthcare system at a certain point in time may be overwhelmed and cause a
real shortage of ICU beds, ventilators, PPE, and overall resuscitation capacity.2 If and
when this happens, decisions will have to be made with regard to resource allocation.
Such decisions should be timely (not pre-emptive, but not too late) and consistent. As
stated above, these decisions should not be made solely by individual institutions or
healthcare providers, but be based on system-level protocols. At different operational
levels, ‘ethics teams’ should be instituted to support and/or relieve individual
healthcare providers of the responsibility of making rationing decisions.22,23 Once 37
decisions have been made, healthcare providers should act accordingly and those

who are unable to accept the defined ethical framework should preferably take up
clinical support roles in areas where no rationing decisions are needed. At all times,
such allocation decisions should be well documented (ideally also in a registry) to
allow for transparency and future audit.
The ethical decision making in the context of a pandemic is complex. It should be based
on the careful appreciation of different, sometimes conflicting, ethical principles and
societal preferences, within the concrete context of resource availability and needs
at that time.2,13 Although we acknowledge the fact that there is no universal ‘truth’,
the ERC ethical WG wants to emphasize some considerations to inform healthcare
systems in developing their local guidelines:
• W
hen there is truly an imbalance between the available and needed resources,
most authors would argue for some degree of ‘distributive justice’, meaning ‘the
greatest good for the greatest number of people’, and value the needs of a society
higher than that of a single individual. 8,12,19,24
• T his concept is extremely challenging to apply in practice. A primarily ‘welfare-
based’ approach might be reasonable in the context of disaster, but there is
difficulty in defining what actually counts as ‘welfare’ and how to really maximise
it. This includes potential conflicts between quantity and quality of life-years, and
the challenge of assessing and predicting quality of life.
• H
ealthcare teams should carefully assess each individual patient’s chances of
survival and/or ‘good’ long-term outcome, and their expected use of resources. As
these are not static facts, such evaluation should be reviewed on a regular basis. It
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is our opinion that there is, in this specific context, no ethical difference between
withholding or withdrawing medical support even if one is passive and the other
active. While we acknowledge that viewpoints may differ depending on cultural
and ethical background, we think withdrawal of medical support ethically differs
from active life-ending procedures, which we consider not ethically permissible
even during a pandemic.25,26 Appropriate end-of-life comfort care is always
mandatory.
• W
hat limited evidence there is from literature should be carefully considered,
rather than just expert opinion.
• T here are no ethical grounds to specifically favour distinct groups because of
profession, rank, status or similar criteria. Neither should personal characteristics
of people, such as ability to pay, lifestyle or merits to society, be counted as ethical
criteria in prioritising. Some authors advocate the prioritisation of healthcare
workers and other ‘critical professions’ because of their (difficult to replace)
‘instrumental value’ and the risks they are willingly taking.2,23 This argumentation,
however, would only be relevant if the identified persons are really playing ‘key’
roles, which is often challenging to define precisely,, and there is an anticipated
long-term shortage in that type of ‘key’ professional.13 It is our opinion that
categorical inclusion (as in the example above) or exclusion (severe chronic lung
disease, severe cognitive impairment, etc.) are ethically flawed.4,23 Essentially, 38
within the ethical boundaries of autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence,

every life is ‘worth saving’. Rather than identifying populations for whom it is no
longer needed to evaluate their ‘eligibility’ to receive certain resources when these
resources are scarce, the ethical principles of justice and equity demand unbiased
evaluation of each individual patient regardless.
• W
hen patients are truly comparable, some would still rely on the principle of ‘first
come first served’. Other, however, have the opinion that this leads to unfairness,
for example when persons become sick later in the pandemic because they
adhered more strictly to recommended public health measures, or when persons
have less access to healthcare due to social inequality, and would advocate a more
egalitarian approach in these circumstances (e.g. by means of ‘lottery’).2,23 One way
of dealing with this conundrum is to optimise, within the given ethical framework,
the differentiation between individual cases, considering , for example, not only
their initial status but also their evolution and how they respond to treatment.
• C
riteria are not static and need to be timely adjusted to changes in COVID-19
treatment possibilities, in epidemiology and/or in hospital resources.4
Any decision with regard to treatment limitation at any moment in the care trajectory
should be communicated, respectfully and empathically, with full transparency and
directive, with the patient and/or their next of kin. At all times, proper attention
should be given to patient comfort.
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Advance care planning

Advance care planning [ACP] should be considered in all patients with an increased
risk of cardiac arrest, or predicted poor outcome in the event of cardiac arrest. ACP
should include decisions on resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, admission to
intensive care, and admission to hospital. For those with a pre-existing ACP, it might
be necessary to re-evaluate its appropriateness within the given context. Discussion
about ACP should involve the patient (if feasible), their relatives (if the patient agrees),
their treating physician and other involved healthcare professionals (e.g., intensivists,
nurses, palliative care team). We are aware that this may be challenging in the context
of social distancing where much communication is done via telephone or video
link.27,28 Moreover, important knowledge gaps still exist that make prognostication
difficult in the context of COVID-19.
Indications to withhold and withdraw CPR

The general principles of ethics in emergencies and resuscitation remain valid
during the COVID-19 pandemic.1,12 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be
considered a ‘conditional’ treatment and healthcare systems should implement
39
criteria for decision-making about resuscitation, taking into consideration their

specific local context, legal, cultural and organisational. Resuscitation should not be
started or continued in cases where the safety of the provider cannot be sufficiently
assured, when there is obvious mortal injury or irreversible death, or when a valid and
relevant advance directive becomes available (see provider safety below).
The outcome of non-shockable rhythm cardiac arrest caused by hypoxaemia from
COVID-19 pneumonia is very poor.17,29 In such a case, healthcare systems (and/
or providers) may consider the risk of harm outweighs the anticipated benefit of
resuscitation, thus providing a reason for early termination of resuscitation.
Changing CPR procedures in view of provider safety

Rescuer safety is important, be it a bystander or healthcare professional. For
resuscitation, there is inevitably a trade-off between risk to the provider and benefit
for the patient. Whilst trying to keep it as low as reasonably acceptable, healthcare
providers routinely accept a certain risk as part of their profession. To a certain degree,
this is also true for lay bystanders, and will depend on their relationship with the
victim as well as their perception of risk. The key challenge with resuscitation during
the COVID-19 pandemic is that the precise risk to the provider and the true benefit for
the patient are both unknown.
Many healthcare professionals consider themselves to have a duty of care to the
patient, regardless of risk, to help to the best of their abilities. For physicians, this is
reflected in the Hippocratic oath). Whilst doing their best for an individual patient,
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healthcare providers should also be aware of their responsibility to their relatives,

colleagues, and the wider community.4 Healthcare professionals underestimating
the risk of transmission may spread virus to the rest their team and within the larger
community putting further strain on the healthcare system.30,31
CPR carries a clear risk of transmission of infectious disease even if it is chest
compression-only CPR.11,32 Healthcare providers should therefore use appropriate PPE
(and be knowledgeable about its proper use) in all cases with confirmed or suspected
COVID-19. The type of PPE is defined in the introductory section to these guidelines.
Lay bystanders or first responders should protect themselves as far as feasible and
avoid actions with a high risk of transmission, especially if they themselves are at
high-risk of poor outcome in the event of transmission (elderly, chronic lung disease,
heart disease).
Rescuers who are caregivers or household members of the victim may have already
been exposed and may be more willing to deliver CPR regardless of the potential
increased risk.
In the current setting, it is very important to systematically debrief after every
resuscitation attempt, to address the team performance, the medical and ethical
decision-making process, and potential issues such as personal protection and
rescuer safety.
40

Responsibilities of individual healthcare providers
Despite the considerable stress caused by the current pandemic, healthcare
professionals should:
• help to the best of their abilities
• align their practice with guidelines provided
• protect themselves, their patients, and their colleagues from transmission
• steward resources, e.g. avoid wasting or inappropriate use
• properly document and communicate medical (ethical) decisions
• p
rovide continuity of care to patients with acute or chronic problems not directly
related to COVID-19
• b
e compassionate and empathic to the needs, emotional and psychological, of
colleagues as well as patients and their relatives. Consider referral and follow-up
where needed.
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REFERENCES
1. Bossaert LL, Perkins GD, Askitopoulou H, et al. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines
for Resuscitation 2015: Section 11. The ethics of resuscitation and end-of-life decisions.
Resuscitation. 2015; 95:302–311
2. Emanuel EJ, Persad G, Upshur R, et al. Fair Allocation of Scarce Medical Resources in the Time
of COVID-19 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 23]. N Engl J Med. 2020;10.1056/
NEJMsb2005114
3. Gostin LO, Friedman EA, Wetter SA. Responding to COVID-19: How to Navigate a Public Health
Emergency Legally and Ethically [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 26]. Hastings
Cent Rep. 2020;10.1002/hast.1090
4. Chan PS, Berg RA, Nadkarni VM. Code Blue During the COVID-19 Pandemic [published
online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 7]. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2020;10.1161/
CIRCOUTCOMES.120.006779
5. Lazzerini M, Putoto G. COVID-19 in Italy: momentous decisions and many uncertainties

[published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 18]. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;. doi:10.1016/S2214-
109X(20)30110-8

41

7. Resuscitation council UK statements; url: https://www.resus.org.uk/media/statements/
resuscitation-council-uk-statements-on-covid-19-coronavirus-cpr-and-resuscitation/; accessed
05 April 2020
8. Biddison LD, Berkowitz KA, Courtney B, et al. Ethical considerations: care of the critically ill
and injured during pandemics and disasters: CHEST consensus statement. Chest. 2014;146(4
Suppl):e145S–55S
9. Disaster bioethics; url: https://disasterbioethics.com/covid-19/; accessed 05 April 2020
10. Edelson DP, Sasson C, Chan PS, et al. Interim Guidance for Basic and Advanced Life Support in
Adults, Children, and Neonates With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19: From the Emergency
Cardiovascular Care Committee and Get With the Guidelines®-Resuscitation Adult and
Pediatric Task Forces of the American Heart Association in Collaboration with the American
Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Respiratory Care, American College of
Emergency Physicians, The Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, and American Society
of Anesthesiologists: Supporting Organizations: American Association of Critical Care Nurses
and National EMS Physicians [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 9]. Circulation.
2020;10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.047463.
11. Denis et al, Transdisciplinary insights – Livin Paper Rega Institute Leuven Belgium, version 6
April 2020; https://rega.kuleuven.be/if/corona_covid-19
12. Ethical guidance Belgian Resuscitation Council, Belgian Society of Emergency and Disaster
Medicine; url: https://www.besedim.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Ethical-decision-
making-in-emergencies_COVID19_22032020_final-1.pdf; accessed 05 April 2020
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13. Kim SYH, Grady C. Ethics in the time of COVID: What remains the same and what is
different [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 6]. Neurology. 2020;10.1212/
WNL.0000000000009520.
14. Koonin LM, Pillai S, Kahn EB, Moulia D, Patel A. Strategies to Inform Allocation of Stockpiled
Ventilators to Healthcare Facilities During a Pandemic [published online ahead of print, 2020
Mar 20]. Health Secur. 2020;10.1089/hs.2020.0028
15. Schiariti V. The human rights of children with disabilities during health emergencies: the
challenge of COVID-19 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 30]. Dev Med Child Neurol.
2020;10.1111/dmcn.14526
16. Lewnard JA, Lo NC. Scientific and ethical basis for social-distancing interventions against
COVID-19 [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 23]. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;. doi:10.1016/
S1473-3099(20)30190-0
17. Fritz Z, Perkins GD. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation after hospital admission with covid-19.
BMJ. 2020;369:m1387. Published 2020 Apr 6. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1387
18. Legido-Quigley H, Asgari N, Teo YY, et al. Are high-performing health systems resilient
against the COVID-19 epidemic? Lancet. 2020;395(10227):848–850. doi:10.1016/S0140-
6736(20)30551-1
19. Satkoske VB, Kappel DA, DeVita MA. Disaster Ethics: Shifting Priorities in an Unstable and 42
Dangerous Environment. Crit Care Clin. 2019;35(4):717–725. doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2019.06.006

20. Somes J, Donatelli NS. Ethics and disasters involving geriatric patients. J Emerg Nurs.
2014;40(5):493–496. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2014.05.013
21. Mezinska S, Kakuk P, Mijaljica G, Waligóra M, O’Mathúna DP. Research in disaster settings: a
systematic qualitative review of ethical guidelines. BMC Med Ethics. 2016;17(1):62. Published
2016 Oct 21. doi:10.1186/s12910-016-0148-7
22. Arie S. COVID-19: Can France’s ethical support units help doctors make challenging
decisions?. BMJ. 2020;369:m1291. Published 2020 Apr 2. doi:10.1136/bmj.m1291
23. White DB, Lo B. A Framework for Rationing Ventilators and Critical Care Beds During the
COVID-19 Pandemic [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 27]. JAMA. 2020;10.1001/
jama.2020.5046
24. Merin O, Miskin IN, Lin G, Wiser I, Kreiss Y. Triage in mass-casualty events: the Haitian
experience. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2011;26(5):386–390. doi:10.1017/S1049023X11006856
25. Mentzelopoulos SD, Slowther AM, Fritz Z, et al. Ethical challenges in resuscitation. Intensive
Care Med. 2018;44(6):703–716. doi:10.1007/s00134-018-5202-0
26. Sprung CL, Ricou B, Hartog CS, et al. Changes in End-of-Life Practices in European Intensive
Care Units From 1999 to 2016 [published online ahead of print, 2019 Oct 2] [published
correction appears in JAMA. 2019 Nov 5;322(17):1718]. JAMA. 2019;322(17):1–12. doi:10.1001/
jama.2019.14608
27. Boettcher I, Turner R, Briggs L. Telephonic advance care planning facilitated by health plan
case managers. Palliat Support Care. 2015;13(3):795–800.
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28. Tieu C, Chaudhry R, Schroeder DR, Bock FA, Hanson GJ, Tung EE. Utilization of Patient
Electronic Messaging to Promote Advance Care Planning in the Primary Care Setting. Am J
Hosp Palliat Care. 2017;34(7):665–670
29. Shao F, Xu S, Ma X, Xu Z, Lyu J, Ng M, Cui H, Yu C, Zhang Q, Sun P, Tang Z, In-hospital cardiac

arrest outcomes among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Wuhan, China, Resuscitation
(2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.04.005
30. Ofner-Agostini M, Gravel D, McDonald LC, et al. Cluster of cases of severe acute respiratory
syndrome among Toronto healthcare workers after implementation of infection control
precautions: a case series. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2006;27(5):473–478
31. Marineli F, Tsoucalas G, Karamanou M, Androutsos G. Mary Mallon (1869-1938) and the history
of typhoid fever. Ann Gastroenterol. 2013;26(2):132–134
32. Ott M, Krohn A, Jaki C, Schilling T, Heymer J. CPR and COVID-19: Aerosol-spread during chest
compressions. Zenodo (2020, April 3); http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739498
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Section 8
First Aid
D. Zideman, A. Handley, T. Djärv, E. Singletary, P. Cassan,
E. De Buck, B. Klaassen, D. Meyran, V. Borra, D. Cimpoesu
knowledge and experience of COVID-19. As countries are at different stages 44

First aid is often a critical part of the management of injuries and sudden illness.
Despite the current concerns about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the
focus on the prevention of its spread and treatment, injuries and illnesses unrelated
to coronavirus still occur. The delivery of prompt first aid management may prevent
an additional burden on the health system by managing simple injuries or illnesses
on site rather than calling for an ambulance or taking the casualty to hospital. It may
also prevent the unnecessary exposure of the casualty to the virus.
Serious injuries and illness will, however, still require medical care and the assessment
and treatment of such individuals should not be delayed because of fear of COVID-19.
There are only a few changes to the current recommended first aid protocols, most of
which relate to the prevention or minimisation of the risk of virus transfer.
During the COVID-19 pandemic:
• A
ssume that any casualty has COVID-19 and manage appropriately. The casualty
may be asymptomatic and yet still be a virus carrier.
• If the casualty is a household contact of the care provider and infected with
COVID-19, that provider has likely already been exposed and may be willing to
provide direct first aid.
 HOME 
• If the casualty is not a household contact:

• Follow national advice on social distancing and the use of personal
protective equipment (PPE) wherever possible.
• The use of PPE (gloves, masks, eye-protection, etc) may not be applicable
to all first aid, but care should always be taken to protect the casualty and
the first aid provider.
• Those key workers with a duty of care should put on the appropriate PPE
and provide first aid without further delay.
• If the casualty is responsive and able to follow selfcare advice, provide
first aid advice from a safe (2m) distance. If the casualty has a face cover/
mask available, encourage them to wear it while being cared for. Family
members, if willing, may be coached to provide direct first aid. It may
also be necessary to provide dressings, bandages, etc. from outside the
immediate contact area.
• If the casualty is unresponsive or unable to provide selfcare then it may
be necessary to provide direct care. However, the casualty and the first
aid provider must be aware of the risk of virus transfer.
45
• Sequence of actions for bystander care of a casualty outside of the household:

• Call for medical assistance immediately.
• Where possible wear gloves when touching or handling the casualty.
• Wear a face cover/mask if available and consider placing a face cover/
mask over the face of the casualty.
• Only handle/touch what is absolutely essential, remembering that all
surfaces in and around the casualty may be contaminated by the virus..
• Only provide essential direct first aid in order to limit your exposure time.
This may include controlling significant bleeding, applying a dressing, use
of an adrenaline autoinjector, assessing for responsiveness by shaking the
person and shouting, and positioning of a casualty.
• Following completion, it is essential to:

• remove and dispose of any PPE
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water for at least
20 seconds
• wash all your clothing as soon as practicable
• be prepared to self-isolate and follow national guidance if you develop
COVID-19 symptoms after providing direct first aid
• R
ecommendations on the provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adults and
children has been provided in the respective sections.
www.erc.edu

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EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

 isks associated with cardiopulmonary

Mechanisms of transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

The minimum airborne-precaution PPE comprises:

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) has undertaken a

1. Is the delivery of chest compressions or defibrillation an aerosol-generating

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

The ILCOR treatment recommendations are:

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

7. Couper K, Taylor-Phillips S, Grove A, et al. COVID-19 in cardiac arrest and infection

11. Chalumeau M, Bidet P, Lina G, et al. Transmission of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing

14. Knapp J, MA W, E. P. Transmission of tuberculosis during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Recommendations for emergency medical dispatch staff for suspected or confirmed

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Recommendations for BLS in adults by healthcare personnel for suspected or

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

2. Couper K, Taylor-Phillips S, Grove A, Freeman K, Osokogu O, Court R, Mehrabian A, Morley

3. Perkins GD et al. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation: COVID-19 Consensus on

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

In-hospital cardiac arrest

3. For those for whom resuscitation would be inappropriate, decisions must be

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Sequence of actions for in-hospital cardiac arrest of a patient

6. Don (put on) airborne-precaution PPE (if not already on).

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Resuscitation in intubated patients at the time of cardiac arrest

Resuscitation in patients in the prone position

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

2. Couper K, Taylor-Phillips S, Grove A, Freeman K, Osokogu O, Court R, Mehrabian A, Morley

3. Perkins GD et al. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation: COVID-19 Consensus on

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

These ‘temporary’ adaptations to the existing paediatric guidelines in the setting of

Protection of bystanders and healthcare

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

In approximately 70% of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, rescuers are likely

Recognition of the critically ill child

and subsequently, if needed, a comprehensive stepwise pathophysiology-based

Airway & breathing management of a critically

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Recognition of cardiac arrest in children and BLS

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Once cardiac arrest is identified, rescuers should provide at least compression-only

When an automated external defibrillator [AED] is readily available, trained providers

Pre-hospital EMS or in-hospital ALS teams must wear airborne-precaution PPE

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Advanced Life Support

Ethics of resuscitation in children during the COVID

EUROPEAN RESUSCITATION COUNCIL COVID-19 GUIDELINES

9. Dong Y, Mo X, Hu Y, et al. Epidemiology of COVID-19 Among Children in China [published

11. Bouffet E, Challinor J, Sullivan M, Biondi A, Rodriguez-Galindo C, Pritchard-Jones K. Early

isks associated with cardiopulmonary

Protection of bystanders and healthcare

Recognition of the critically ill child

Airway & breathing management of a critically

Recognition of cardiac arrest in children and BLS

Advanced Life Support

Ethics of resuscitation in children during the COVID

• Local recommendations may take the regional prevalence of COVID-19 into

Pre-delivery discussions with suspected or

Neonatal team attending in advance

eonatal team called after delivery (of a suspected

evel of PPE for postnatal collapse and the provision

eneral guidance for education in CPR during the

• Whenever possible, and where applicable, teaching methods such as distance

Basic courses during the COVID-19 pandemic

• F or professionals, self-directed learning or distance learning has the potential

dvanced courses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Instructor education during the COVID-19 pandemic

T he general principles of ethics in resuscitation remain valid. Where

T he key challenge with resuscitation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ethical decision making when resources are lacking

Advance care planning

Indications to withhold and withdraw CPR

Changing CPR procedures in view of provider safety