Key Takeaways:
– Doing chest compressions at the correct speed can make a significant difference in CPR effectiveness.
– Using a familiar song running at a tempo of around 100 -120bpm can help bystanders remember the correct pace for chest compressions.
– Songs such as “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, and several holiday tunes can be used as effective CPR rhythms.
– Additional training in how to administer CPR is recommended as the rate of compressions is only one aspect of performing CPR correctly.
Beats for Beats: Save a Life With Chest Compressions and Music
Every year, approximately 350,000 cardiac arrests take place outside US hospitals. Immediate bystander CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival by assisting blood flow to the brain and critical organs. Sadly, only an estimated 40% of cardiac arrest victims receive this lifesaving assistance.
Why is CPR recognized as an urgent response to cardiac arrest? The key is the ‘hard and fast’ chest compressions, as Dr. John W. Hafner, a clinical professor of emergency medicine, explains. Correctly executed chest compressions facilitate blood flow to the brain and vital organs. Medical professionals recommend a rhythm between 100 and 120 beats per minute for performing chest compressions. This is where the unexpected connection between music – specifically holiday music – and CPR comes into play.
Tuning into CPR Effective Rhythms
Having a recognisable song in mind can help one keep the required rhythm while administering CPR. Songs provide a memorable and subconscious internal metronome. Dr. Hafner led a study showing people’s improved CPR performance when they used the tempo of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” as their guide — a song that runs at 100 beats per minute. But what if the Bee Gees isn’t your taste in music?
The Holiday and CPR Connection
The good news is you can find the ideal CPR rhythm in disparate genres, even in holiday music! Here lies the chance to satisfy your musical tastes and be a potential lifesaver. All you need is familiarity with tunes that have the right tempo, typically between 100 and 120 beats per minute.
Songs such as “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms, “I Am the Grinch” by Tyler, the Creator featuring Fletcher Jones, “Jingle Bells” by Duke Ellington, “Last Christmas” by Wham!, and “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC fall into this category. A personal favorite song can be a potential lifesaver.
The Role of Training: Getting the Correct Beats Isn’t Enough
Recognizing the role of music in aiding CPR performance is one thing, but performing CPR requires more than just keeping the right rhythm. Depth of compressions, and having the confidence to perform under stress are also crucial. Therefore, hands-on training is instrumental in assisting in other vital aspects of performing effective CPR.
Music can assist during the chaos of an emergency. If we are able to recall a familiar tune, processing and reacting under stress becomes easier, facilitating a potentially life-saving intervention. Whether you prefer “Dreidel” by Erran Baron Cohen, “Winter Wonderland” by Ray Charles for Christmas, or “The Final Countdown” by Europe for the New Year’s Eve, remember that syncing the right beats could potentially save a life!
Anyone Can Perform CPR: The Lifesaving Skill for All
CPR isn’t limited to adults; children and teenagers can also learn and perform this life-saving skill effectively under supervision. Those living with people at risk of cardiac arrest should especially consider becoming CPR proficient. Encourage others to learn too— a CPR training course could be a lifesaving gift this holiday season!
Embrace the combination of holiday cheer and lifesaving rhythms. As you listen to your favorite holiday songs, bear in mind their potential to save a life. It’s harmony at its best— celebrating life while being equipped to save one!