The Malta Resuscitation Council was first established in 2004 with the primary aim of education via standardised instruction in effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation of medical, paramedical personnel and laypersons. Since its inception, the Malta Resuscitation Council has been affiliated to the European Resuscitation Council and has adopted the ERC’s resuscitation guidelines. It has developed enormously over the past 12 years or so and, to-date, has organised innumerable courses, at various levels, in both adult and children resuscitation. Now a recognised NGO, the MRC remains a non-profit organisation that re-cycles proceeds from its courses into donations and purchasing of more equipment. Indeed, ‘CPR’ is now established in the workplace, schools and public domain through widespread education, instruction and, amongst others, the promotion and purchase of AEDs. This has come about following all the hard work put in by all preceeding committees, and both the MRC committee as well as all its ERC-approved instructors, continue to contribute their time and expertise on an entirely voluntary basis.

After three years of significant achievements in Resuscitation promotion and training at a National level, the previous committee’s term of office has come to an end. The new committee comprises a balance of ‘old timers’ some of whom were founding members of the original committee, as well as some completely new faces with fresh enthusiasm and new ideas. They face the difficult task of maintaining the momentum and initiatives of the previous committee, and pushing CPR training in Malta to a higher level once again. Widening the course portfolio, increasing the number of trained laypersons, encouraging new instructors, utilising the media for promotion and education to greater effect, establishing CPR onto the National School Curriculum and setting up a national Cardiac Arrest Register, are but a few goals already on the agenda or awaiting take off. This ambitious agenda will require great perseverance to reach fruition, but offers a challenge and that the new committee is committed to deliver.