Sir, the new guidance from the Resuscitation Council (UK), Medical emergencies and resuscitation – Standards for clinical practice and training for dental practitioners and dental care professionals poses an interesting question. Who is to provide the recommended training in the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?

Immediate Life Support courses (which include the use of an AED) are not currently widely available for the dental team. It is also difficult to imagine that the existing CPR training providers (Resuscitation Council, Resuscitation Training Officers) will be in a position to cope with the greatly increased demand.

The Dental Sedation Teachers Group (DSTG) and The Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD) have endorsed the new guidance document and we particularly support the concept of designated trainers within the dental practice providing 'cascade' training. In our opinion, this is the only way it will be possible to provide Immediate Life Support training on the necessary scale.