Message of the Chair
In 2024, the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) made meaningful progress across education, science, advocacy, governance, and community engagement. More than 363,000 individuals were trained in 58 countries through ERC-certified courses, reaffirming our role as a global leader in resuscitation education. The Course Directors' Day in Vienna and the development of new training formats showcased our commitment to quality, innovation, and inclusivity.
Science, research, and education remained at the heart of our mission. The EuReCa-THREE project concluded with contributions from 28 countries and over 45,000 cases. We made significant contributions to the revised Utstein guidelines and played a leading role in the development of ILCOR’s CoSTR 2025.
Young ERC flourished through its Masterclass, publications, and growing involvement in guideline writing groups, ensuring the next generation of leaders is supported and equipped to shape the future of resuscitation.
The ERC Congress 2024 in Athens was a defining moment for our community. It featured nearly 500 scientific abstracts, prestigious Young Investigator Awards, and late-breaking research presentations that highlighted the ERC’s global scientific relevance. The Young ERC played a central role through poster moderations, Masterclass forums, and the F.I.R.S.T. competition.
Our communications strategy achieved exceptional outreach, with the #RESUS24 campaign reaching over 5 million people.
The Guidelines 2025 process also made significant progress. Eleven writing groups, coordinated by a dedicated steering committee, met monthly and included community advisors, survivors, sister organisations, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force, demonstrating ERC’s commitment to transparency, co-creation, and equity.
The ERC DEI Committee is a dedicated support committee of the ERC, established at the end of 2024 to guide DEI initiatives across the organisation. This committee consists of seven members from six countries, representing four distinct professional backgrounds. In the early stages of its term, the DEI Committee has contributed to reviewing policies and developing the 2025 Guidelines, which have incorporated DEI principles from the outset. The next steps will focus on outlining the structure of the ERC framework and providing recommendations related to DEI matters. The committee is committed to promoting DEI principles, having done so during the 2024 Resuscitation Congress, with plans to continue these efforts at the 2025 NRC days.
Our advocacy strategy reached new heights. The Get Trained Save Lives campaign engaged millions during UEFA EURO 2024. We launched the AWARE Coalition to enhance workplace readiness, advocated for the inclusion of CPR training in the revised EU Driving Licence Directive, and finalised a Youth Advocacy Toolkit, empowering action at both local and national levels.
Looking ahead, survivorship is emerging as a strategic focus. Our involvement in EU-funded initiatives and post-resuscitation care partnerships signals a shift from saving lives to supporting those who survive.
As leadership transitions, the ERC stands stronger, more united, and with a future-focused outlook. Together, we continue to build a resilient Europe, and beyond, of life-savers.
