The Bee Gees’ “Stayin Alive” just might help cardiac arrest victims stay alive

Whether you love disco music or hate it, you might actually owe your life one day to the Bee Gees.

The American Heart Association recommends that 100 chest compressions per minute be used in emergency CPR. This high rate of compressions is necessary to help maintain circulation of oxygenated blood – essential in the prevention of brain damage and heart tissue damage in cardiac arrest victims.

Most CPR students, however, have a hard time maintaining the rapid rate of compressions, so in recent years the AHA has suggested that students use the Bee Gee’s hit song “Stayin Alive” from Saturday Night Fever as a guide.

“Stayin Alive” pounds out 103 beats per minute.

In a recent study at the University of Illinois, 15 CPR students listened to “Stayin Alive” while practicing compressions. They averaged 109 compressions per minute. Five weeks later they repeated the drill, but with no music playing this time. They were told to simply think of the song. In this second phase, they averaged 113 compressions per minute.

The study leader told the Associated Press that extra compressions over 100 per minute are fine – far better than too few.

Ironically, another song with a similar steady beat works just as well: Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”

I think I’ll go with the Bee Gees.

Source:
“CPR Study Suggests ‘Stayin Alive’ Lives Up to Name” Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press, 10/17/08, ap.org