The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has released the 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, bringing important updates for first aid and emergency care across all sectors. For leisure facilities, pools, waterparks, and gyms, these changes are particularly relevant, as they expand the skills expected of lifeguards and first aiders on site.
At Ruth Lee, we know how crucial it is for leisure operators to train staff effectively and realistically – and the 2025 guidelines underline the need for integrated CPR, airway management, and bleeding control training.
What’s New for Leisure Facilities
The 2025 Guidelines include several updates that directly impact leisure environments:
🩸 Life-Threatening Bleeding Control – A new focus on catastrophic bleeding means staff must now be prepared to respond to traumatic injuries – even if these incidents are rare in pools, gyms, or parks. Learning how to apply tourniquets and control major bleeds is now part of standard first aid training.
❤️ CPR and Airway Management – While CPR has always been core to lifeguard training, the guidelines include updates on chest compressions, defibrillation, and airway management, emphasising hands-on practice and simulation-based learning.
👶 Paediatric Emergencies – Many leisure facilities cater to children and young people, so updated guidance on infant and child resuscitation ensures lifeguards and first aiders are equipped to respond confidently to younger casualties.
🧠 Bystander Response and Simulation – The new guidelines highlight the importance of realistic, scenario-based learning – helping trainees respond instinctively and effectively under pressure. Simulation and gamified education are now seen as best practice, encouraging facilities to adopt modern, blended learning tools like RL360. Developed by Ruth Lee, RL360 combines virtual training environments with physical manikins to create immersive, memorable scenarios – including the Trauma Lens, which focuses specifically on bleeding control and trauma response.
Why This Matters to Lifeguards and Leisure Operators
For pools, leisure centres, and waterparks, these updates are more than just regulations – they’re about preparedness, confidence, and safety. Lifeguards and first aiders must now be competent in both cardiac emergencies and trauma management, including life-threatening bleeding.
Ensuring your staff are trained in these skills not only improves compliance with the latest standards, but also strengthens public safety and confidence in your facility.
Training Made Realistic with the Ruth Lee Trauma Rescue Manikin
Our Trauma Rescue Manikin is the perfect tool for leisure facilities preparing to implement the 2025 guidelines. It combines:
✅ Bleeding control simulation – Integrated wound-packing task trainer on thigh
✅ CPR & Airway functionality – Comes supplies with Simulaids Torso or compatible with various other CPR torsos
✅ IO/IV arm optional – Supports realistic practice of intramuscular and intraosseous placements (30kg model only)
✅ Durable and versatile design – Suitable for both poolside and classroom training
For organisations like RLSS UK, who already use QCPR Annies, the Trauma Rescue Manikin allows seamless integration – combining CPR and trauma scenarios in one lifelike model.
By using this manikin, leisure operators can deliver realistic, hands-on training that fully aligns with the new RCUK guidelines, helping staff respond with confidence in any emergency.
Aquatic Life Support Society demonstrates the Trauma Rescue Manikin to their facility staff in June 2025
Be Ready for 2026
The RCUK encourages all organisations to start preparing for the changes now, with updated courses and manuals available from January 2026.
If you’re a leisure facility manager, lifeguard trainer, or first aid coordinator, now is the time to review your training provision – and the Ruth Lee Trauma Rescue Manikin is ready to support you every step of the way.
👉 Contact us today to discuss how your facility can roll out training in line with the new 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines.
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