Every year in New Zealand, more than 2,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital. Early CPR with good-quality chest compressions combined with ventilations continues to give the best chance of survival, particularly for children.

The New Zealand Resuscitation Council strongly recommends that resuscitation training providers encourage learners to practice and demonstrate expired air ventilation during CPR training and assessment.

Good hygiene practice continues to be important before, during and following resuscitation provider courses to protect against all infections. The majority of resuscitation training manikins have features that help prevent the spread of infection (including respiratory infections). Manufacturers should provide cleaning instructions specific to their manikins and these should be adhered to.

For NZ Resuscitation Council CORE Advanced Instructors:

To gain CORE Advanced or CORE Immediate certification, the NZ Resuscitation Council expects learners to demonstrate expired air ventilation when being assessed on adult and childhood collapse management.

Even with disposable masks and good hygiene practices, a learner may feel uncomfortable demonstrating expired air ventilations on a manikin. Our experience is that this is rare. 

If a learner is unwilling or unable to demonstrate chest compressions and expired air ventilations, then a NZ Resuscitation Council CORE Skills Confirmation of Attendance may be provided.