International emergency cardiac care: support, science, and universal guidelines.

Abstract

Mature resuscitation councils must continue to support educational and training efforts of less-developed countries, but only when strong local interest exists. The scientific basis for the interventions and organization of emergency cardiac care is international in origin. Educational approaches are varied and innovative and should be shared. The era of single national guideline conferences on CPR and emergency cardiac care has ended. Future guideline conferences must cast a broad net to be more international in both participants and scientific knowledge. Existing organizations should support an international infrastructure to help pool scientific and educational expertise.