Bottom line: The 2026 ILCOR CoSTR Summary is packed with details, but the field takeaway is simple: tighten your ventilation discipline, standardize your airway competency, and turn first aid ‘guidance’ into a checklist your team will actually run.

This article distills the most operational first aid + BLS points into a checklist you can paste into your SOP, training plan, or go‑bag notes.

Disclaimer: Education only. Follow your local protocols/medical direction.

Who this is for

• BLS teams (fire, police, lifeguards, volunteer responders)
• Schools/churches/workplaces building realistic medical programs
• Prepared civilians who want first aid that actually works

What’s new (and what’s just finally being said out loud)

The ILCOR CoSTR is a consensus summary of the evidence review process. In 2026, several items that matter to the real world show up clearly:

• Rescuer harms are rare, but they happen in predictable ways (water rescue, unsafe AED access, no PPE, scene response).
• Airway tools (like SGAs) are acceptable for trained BLS responders — but only if you can prove competence and sustain it.
• Ventilation parameters during CPR are clarified in plain terms — and they’re a direct shot at the chronic problem: hyperventilation.

The 2026 No‑BS Field Checklist (print this)

1) Rescuer safety: the boring stuff that keeps you alive

Goal: Do CPR without becoming the second patient.

Checklist:
- Scene first. If it’s not safe, it’s not happening.
- Water rescues: don’t create multiple victims. Use reach/throw/row/go.
- AED access: don’t cut yourself on cabinets/glass.
- If you have PPE, wear it. If you don’t, make a risk decision — don’t pretend risk is zero.

2) Ventilation discipline during CPR (this is where teams bleed time)

Why it matters: Hyperventilation increases intrathoracic pressure, reduces venous return, and can tank perfusion.

Checklist (adult):
- 30:2 when no advanced airway.
- If continuous compressions with ventilation: 10 breaths/min (1 every 6 seconds).
- Give only enough volume for visible chest rise.
- If you can measure tidal volume: target 400–600 mL (or 6–10 mL/kg ideal body weight).

Infographic 1 — Ventilation “Do / Don’t” (CPR)

3) Bag-valve mask: stop using the wrong bag like it’s a flex

Checklist:
- Use a standard adult BVM (1500–1600 mL max) for adults.
- Two-person BVM when possible (seal + squeeze).

4) SGAs in BLS: yes — with a training and QA plan

Reality: An SGA is not magic. It’s a tool that works when the operator is competent.

Checklist:
- If your system allows SGAs for BLS responders:
- run competency-based training
- require regular refreshers
- track success/failure and complications
- If you can’t train/QA it, don’t deploy it.

Infographic 2 — Airway options by capability (BLS)

5) Compression basics: unchanged because physics didn’t change

Checklist:
- Rate: 100–120/min.
- Depth (adult): ~5 cm / 2 in (avoid >6 cm / 2.4 in).
- Full recoil: don’t lean.

6) Recovery position: still relevant — but reassess like an adult

Checklist:
- Use recovery position for decreased responsiveness (non-trauma) when no immediate resuscitation is needed.
- Keep monitoring: airway occlusion, agonal breathing, unresponsiveness.
- If the position prevents assessment, roll supine and reassess.

7) Concussion in first aid: a simple 3-question screen

If you’re not a clinician, keep it simple.

Screen:
1. Did a potential injury occur?
2. Was the mechanism associated with head injury?
3. Was there any altered mental status?

If all 3 are yes: remove from activity and activate EMS / refer to qualified clinician.

Infographic 3 — Concussion decision tree (first aid)

8) Caustic agent attack: don’t “neutralize” — irrigate

Checklist:
- Immediately irrigate affected area with copious water or saline.
- Protect yourself (gloves/eye protection) and call 911.

9) Pediatric extremity bleeding: tourniquet reality

Checklist:
- Use a manufactured windlass tourniquet for life-threatening extremity bleeding in children.
- If the limb is too small for tourniquet application: direct pressure ± hemostatic dressing.

The MED‑TAC equipment angle (what changes about your kit)

This update doesn’t mean you need more gadgets. It means you need standardization.

• If you stock a BVM, stock it with an OPA/NPA set and train two-person technique.
• If you deploy SGAs, make them part of a program (training + QA), not a mystery item in a bag.
• For schools/churches/workplaces: don’t just buy kits — build a plan.

Product links (relevant gear)

• Build or refresh an on‑site trauma/bleeding-control setup: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/bleeding-control
• Stock airway basics and PPE: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/medical-supplies
• Full medical kits for teams: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/medical-kits

Training takeaway: the “two numbers” your team must memorize

1. Compressions: 100–120/min
2. Ventilations (continuous compressions): 10/min

If you enforce those two numbers, your CPR immediately improves.

Actualización ILCOR 2026 de Primeros Auxilios: Lista de verificación sin rodeos para equipos BLS, escuelas y familias preparadas

En resumen: El Resumen CoSTR 2026 de ILCOR tiene muchos detalles, pero el mensaje operativo es claro: controla la ventilación, estandariza la competencia en vía aérea y convierte la “guía” de primeros auxilios en una lista de verificación que tu equipo realmente ejecute.

Aviso: Solo educación. Siga sus protocolos locales y la dirección médica.

Para quién es esto

• Equipos BLS (bomberos, policía, salvavidas, voluntarios)
• Escuelas/iglesias/lugares de trabajo que quieren un programa médico real
• Civiles preparados que buscan primeros auxilios útiles

Lista de verificación operativa 2026 (imprímala)

1) Seguridad del rescatista

• Primero la escena. Si no es seguro, no se realiza.
• Rescates acuáticos: use alcance/lanzamiento/remo/ingreso según riesgo.
• Acceso al DEA: cuidado con gabinetes/vidrio.
• Use EPP cuando esté disponible.

2) Disciplina de ventilación durante RCP

• 30:2 sin vía aérea avanzada.
• Con compresiones continuas: 10 ventilaciones/min (1 cada 6 s).
• Solo el volumen necesario para elevación visible del tórax.
• Si puede medir volumen corriente: 400–600 mL (o 6–10 mL/kg de peso ideal).

3) Bolsa-válvula-mascarilla (BVM)

• Use bolsa adulta estándar (1500–1600 mL máx) en adultos.
• Técnica de dos personas cuando sea posible.

4) Dispositivos supraglóticos (SGA) en BLS

• Sí, si hay entrenamiento por competencia y reciclajes.
• Si no puede entrenar y auditar, no lo despliegue.

5) Compresiones

• Frecuencia: 100–120/min.
• Profundidad adulto: ~5 cm (evitar >6 cm).
• Recoil completo: no se apoye.

6) Posición de recuperación

• Úsela en disminución de respuesta (no traumática) sin necesidad de RCP inmediata.
• Monitoree respiración/obstrucción/no respuesta.
• Si impide evaluar, coloque decúbito supino y reevalúe.

7) Conmoción cerebral: 3 preguntas

1. ¿Ocurrió una posible lesión?
2. ¿El mecanismo sugiere lesión craneal?
3. ¿Hubo alteración del estado mental?

Si las 3 son “sí”: retirar de la actividad y activar EMS / derivar.

8) Ataque con agente cáustico

• Irrigar de inmediato con mucha agua o solución salina.
• Protéjase y llame al 911.

9) Hemorragia pediátrica en extremidad

• Torniquete de windlass fabricado para hemorragia grave.
• Si la extremidad es demasiado pequeña: presión directa ± apósito hemostático.

Enfoque de equipo MED‑TAC: qué cambia en su kit

• Estandarice BVM + OPA/NPA y entrene.
• Si usa SGA, conviértalo en programa (entrenamiento + control de calidad).
• En escuelas/iglesias/trabajo: plan + entrenamiento, no solo una caja.

Enlaces a productos

• Control de sangrado: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/bleeding-control
• Suministros médicos y EPP: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/medical-supplies
• Kits médicos para equipos: https://www.tactical-medicine.com/collections/medical-kits