Stayin' Alive

Finally, I have an opportunity to pair my love of disco with my Red Cross CPR Training.

Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine found that by listening to the Bee Gees' classic hit "Stayin' Alive," people felt more confident performing CPR. Why? Because study participants were asked to perform chest compressions to the beat of the song, which at 103 beats per minute, closely matches the number of chest compressions per minute recommended by the American Heart Association. Dr. David Matlock, one of the researchers in the study, had this to say (this quote was obtained from WebMD):

"Properly performed CPR can triple survival rates for cardiac arrest, but many people hesitate to jump in because they don't feel confident about maintaining the proper rhythm."

"Our research subjects felt that listening to "Stayin' Alive" improved their ability to perform chest compressions at the proper speed, and indeed their performance even five weeks later was excellent."

To improve your CPR rhythm, visit Youtube for the "Stayin' Alive" music video. For more clever analysis of this story, visit The Checkup and WSJ Health Blog.