The risk of transmission of COVID-19 or other serious respiratory infections during a pandemic event can dissuade lay rescuers from practicing resuscitation maneuvers; this may result in a reduction in efficacy in the treatment of the subject with cardiorespiratory arrest; this can also happen in occupational settings for the "designed first aid worker". In this letter we propose some considerations on the adaptation of the guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation to pandemic events and on the protection of workers designated to first aid.