Today, on International Fact-checking Day, we would like to highlight the importance of fact-checking during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. In this ever-changing situation, it's important to have the latest information to guide decision-making. However, we must ensure that this information is trustworthy.

Basic science research and innovation will be vital in containing and mitigating the effects of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. To have quick access to the most relevant health evidence on how to address this global health crisis, The Cochrane collaboration has put together several Special Collections containing relevant Cochrane Reviews:

The mission of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) is to identify and review international science and information relevant to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, emergency cardiovascular care and first aid, and to offer consensus on science and treatment recommendations. The evidence evaluation process is performed by different task forces.

“Cochrane First Aid serves as a liaison between science and practice, and undertakes several efforts to involve and reach laypeople“. In a 15-minute presentation, our director Emmy De Buck explains which initiatives are taken to involve our target audience of guideline developers, first aid curriculum developers, first aid trainers and laypeople performing and receiving first aid. 

From October 22 till October 25, 2019, the yearly Cochrane colloquium will take place in Santiago, Chile.

A new review by the Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group has been published in the Cochrane Library. The authors of this review investigated whether mobilization of community first responders is helpful in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. They found 2 trials, including  1136 participants.

We sent out our very first quarterly newsletter! The online version can be viewed at: https://mailchi.mp/1e1842965bbc/cochrane-first-aid-news-july-2019We will share news, blogshots, relevant Cochrane reviews on First Aid, etc from the past three months in each issue.

This year’s annual Cochrane Colloquium will take place in Santiago, Chile, from October 22nd to October 25th. We will be there to present our newly formed Field, and of course to meet up with all the other members of the Cochrane family. This year’s theme is Embracing Diversity. We’re looking forward seeing you there as well!For more information and registration, visit the Colloquium’s website.

To help guide first-aid care, the International Liaison Comittee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) uses a continuous evidence evaluation process for resuscitation and relevant first-aid topics. This process culminates in the production of a consensus on science with treatment recommendations (CoSTR). Whilst previous work by ILCOR has helped to establish the role of oral glucose (i.e. tablets) over dietary sugars, the optimal enteral route for glucose administration was unknown.