In recent years there has been a move, led by the Resuscitation Council (UK), to standardise resuscitation methods. The Council's recommendations constitute a code of practice (supported by the Health and Safety Executive) and both voluntary and professional organisations are aligning their procedures. As radiographers are already trained in these basic skills, the following article simply outlines the standard procedure for emergency first-aid resuscitation, discusses the importance of training, and will act as a useful reminder to all departments.