Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa

16/05/2026

Family presence during CPR

• Resuscitation teams should offer the family of people who have had cardiac arrests the choice to be present during the resuscitation attempt.

• Healthcare systems should establish clear, contextualised, and culturally sensitive procedures for the involvement of family members.

• Healthcare systems should specifically train their teams to support family members during resuscitation.

• As far as reasonably practicable, healthcare systems should have a trained team member who can be designated to this task as part of the overall CPR strategy.

15/05/2026

Our friends at the Emergency Care Society of South Africa - ECSSA introduced their new board of directors!

Congratulations and good luck with the new term.

🚑 Introducing the 2026 ECSSA Board of Directors!

We are proud to welcome our newly appointed board members, a team of dedicated professionals committed to advancing emergency care across South Africa.

This year's board brings together a blend of familiar and new faces, bringing fresh perspectives alongside valued experience.
Together, they bring a wealth of experience, leadership, and vision to support the growth, education, and representation of the pre-hospital care community.

We look forward to the impact they will make in the year ahead.

Stay tuned as we introduce each board member individually!

13/05/2026

EMT instructor Karl Arps’s CPR lesson quickly got real when he lost consciousness.

Students took turns doing chest compressions and called 911. By the time paramedics arrived, Arps had regained a pulse. https://wapo.st/4umUhGa

07/05/2026

The ACLS for Experienced Providers Course is designed for any healthcare professional who is in possession of a current American Heart Association ACLS Provider Certificate. It is ideal for EMS, Emergency Department and ICU staff, and particularly medical practitioners who regularly participate in resuscitation attempts or who would like to receive in-depth knowledge and skill in a wide range of challenging emergency situations.

2 days
CPD Accreditation: 30 CEUs (Including 2 Ethics) (HPCSA Registered Practitioners)

The ACLS for Experienced Providers Course is an intense practical and case-based Course that covers both common and special resuscitation situations and challenging emergency situations. Learning is facilitated by discussion and hands-on practice, guided by positive and constructive feedback.

The knowledge and skills obtained on the ACLS for Experienced Providers Course includes an update of ACLS Provider skills as well as advanced adjuncts for oxygenation, ventilation and airway control, devices to assist circulation, emergency cardiovascular care pharmacology, peri-arrest arrhythmias, life-threatening causes of chest pain, advanced acute coronary syndromes, life-threatening electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities, toxicology, hypothermia and submersion, severe asthma and anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest associated with pregnancy, shock, pulmonary oedema and hypotension, trauma, electric shock and lightning strikes, medico-legal aspects and ethical considerations, and post-resuscitation stabilization and care

06/05/2026

Here is our stats for 2025

06/05/2026

Creating awareness saves lives.
saburnsociety

https://saburnsociety.co.za

04/05/2026

TCCC GUIDELINES 2026

🚨 2026 TCCC UPDATE

The 2026 update to the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines reinforces a systematic, evidence-based approach focused on reducing preventable mortality in tactical environments. Key adjustments include prioritizing critical interventions, particularly in hemorrhage control, advanced airway management, and optimizing the approach to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Improvements in hemostatic resuscitation, physiological monitoring, and decision-making in high-threat scenarios are also incorporated.

🩸 1. Hemorrhage Control (PRIORITY #1)

* Tourniquet application remains the primary intervention for exsanguinating hemorrhages
* Standardized use of advanced hemostatic agents (Combat Gauze, XStat, iTClamp)
* Reinforced application of double tourniquets and control of non-compressible bleeding
* Continuous assessment for tourniquet conversion or adjustment

🫁 2. Airway Management

* Delayed intervention in the active threat phase, prioritizing tactical safety
* More precise indications for surgical airway (cricothyrotomy)
* Confirmation via capnography and continuous monitoring

🫁💥 3. Tension Pneumothorax

* Early clinical diagnosis based on respiratory deterioration and signs of shock
* Needle decompression as the immediate intervention (consider bilateral in traumatic cardiac arrest)
* Dynamic reassessment after intervention

🧠 4. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

* Prevention of hypoxia (SpO₂ ≥ 92%) and hypotension (SBP > 100 mmHg)
* Use of hypertonic solutions in suspected brain herniation
* Serial neurological monitoring every 5–10 minutes
* Priority of early evacuation over neurosurgical capacity

💉 5. Resuscitation

* Focus on hemostatic resuscitation: whole blood or components in balanced proportions
* Early administration of tranexamic acid (TXA 2 g)
* Clear physiological goals: palpable radial pulse, improvement in mental status, or adequate SBP

❄️ 6. Prevention of hypothermia

* Early implementation of active and passive measures
* Integration with resuscitation to avoid the lethal triad

💊 7. Pain Management

* Expanded and protocolized use of ketamine (IM, IN, IV)
* Focus on effective analgesia without compromising the airway or ventilation
* Close monitoring after administration

🚁 8. Evacuation (TACEVAC)

* Continuity of care based on principles of constant reassessment
* Structured transfer of clinical information
* Operational integration between tactical and medical personnel

📄 OFFICIAL PDF DOWNLOAD
View the full document here:

https://learning-media.allogy.com/api/v1/pdf/18ccfdfc-a076-47e9-8a34-376efdd81b43/contents

🔥 FINAL SUMMARY
The 2026 TCCC update consolidates a more structured, dynamic, and results-oriented care model, emphasizing early interventions, physiological control, and critical decision-making under tactical conditions.

https://learning-media.allogy.com/api/v1/pdf/18ccfdfc-a076-47e9-8a34-376efdd81b43/contents

03/05/2026

Successful Resuscitation

🚨 INCIDENT REPORT – DROWNING (PAEDIATRIC) 🚨

Date: 02 May 2026
Time: 16:15
Location: Pretoria

PVES responders including a PVES Doctor were activated via the ICE Network for assistance with a drowning incident involving a 4-year-old child.

On arrival, Netcare 911 was already on scene performing CPR. PVES members immediately assisted with resuscitation efforts while additional interventions, including IV access, were initiated.

The child received advanced life support care, including adrenaline administration, while continuous resuscitation efforts were maintained.

A decision was made to transport the child urgently to the nearest appropriate medical facility, with ongoing resuscitation in progress. Multiple emergency services, security teams, and the Sinoville CPF assisted with road closures and escorting to ensure rapid transport.

At approximately 17:25, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved after an extended resuscitation effort.

The child, in a critical but stable condition, was subsequently airlifted by Netcare HEMS to a specialised paediatric trauma facility for further advanced care.

During the incident, trauma counsellors from the Sinoville CPF were also activated to support the family during this difficult time.

Services On Scene:
Netcare911
Netcare HEMS
APA
ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd.
Gauteng Emergency Medical Services
Sinoville CPF
Maximum Security
Proshield Security

We commend all responding teams for their exceptional teamwork, dedication, and perseverance during this highly emotional and critical incident.

Our thoughts remain with the child and family during this time.

⚠️ Water Safety Reminder:
Drowning can occur quickly and silently. Constant supervision around water is essential, especially for young children.

01/05/2026

Spotlight on research

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resplu.2026.101324

Should we ditch CCF?

30/04/2026

⛽️ What if petrol stations could save lives? ❤️

Petrol stations are everywhere.
Open 24/7, 365 days a year — always nearby when you need them.

Now imagine this:
⚡ Every petrol station equipped with an AED
⚡ Help always within reach
⚡ Every stop becoming a life-saving stop

This is what real community safety could look like —
simple, powerful, and always accessible.
From filling tanks… to saving lives.

👉 Quick question:
How close is your nearest petrol station to you right now?

Drop your answer in the comments 👇

29/04/2026

*The year is 1957*

Johns Hopkins team unveils first portable external defibrillator:

After several years of research on closed-chest defibrillation, Dr. Kouwenhoven’s team at John’s Hopkins, which includes James Jude, MD, and Guy Knickerbocker, PhD, unveils its prototype of the first portable external defibrillator (on a wheeled cart): the 91kg Hopkins Closed Chest Defibrillator.

Thanks to the evolving technology we now have access to lightweight portable devices.