seems a new procedure is being recommended for anyone without formal training.

basically, use only chest compressions.

link to article: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&e=9&u=/usatoday/simplermethodforcprcoming



in what may prove to be the biggest shift in emergency care of cardiac arrest in 40 years, cities across the country are leading a move away from the familiar practice of using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

In its place, the cities are recommending simple chest compressions - pushing down repeatedly on the victim's chest - to mimic a steady heartbeat. The emergency medical directors who are behind the shift say research in Seattle and Richmond, Va., suggests it will save many lives.

Seattle saved more lives by advising compressions alone, and Richmond rescuers arrived to find 10 times more victims (60% vs. 6%) getting lifesaving compressions when not distracted by advice on breathing techniques.

For now, the shift applies primarily to untrained bystanders, the group most likely to reach victims in the first critical minutes. In such emergencies, lives generally are saved or lost within six minutes. The emergency directors agreed that trying to talk 911 callers through mouth-to-mouth procedures was doing more harm than good because it wasted time.