Music to CPR By

Saw this at the WSJ Health Blog and had to mention it.

Turns out that most people who do CPR don't compress the chest fast enough to help. The recommended rate is 100 beats per minute, but it seems too fast and wears you out.

The answer seems to be providiing appropriate theme music, which, ironically is Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees.



At 103 beats per minute, if you can keep up with the Bee Gees you can do CPR at the proper rate. Kind of turns saving lives into Guitar Hero, but when 15 medical students were allowed to listen to music (namely, this song) they could do 109 BPM, and five weeks later, even without the music they were still at 113 BPM. All of this will be presented for the edification of us all at ACEP, the American College of Emergency Physicians meeting October 27-30 in Chicago, or as it is known for those three days, "The Best Town In Which To Have A Public Cardiac Arrest."