Over the years the American Heart Association has issued numerous warnings, suggestions, and various other bits of information.
The latest is the perfect song for performing hands-only CPR because its tempo is the perfect rhythm for performing the life-saving action.
While any number of songs may come to mind, most people would never think of a 90’s grunge music classic.
According to the AHA, compressions between 100 and 120 per minute are the appropriate rate to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
According to the Heart Association, the Pearl Jam song “Even Flow” is played at a tempo of 105 beats per minute – the perfect rate for performing hand-only CPR – no mouth-to-mouth breaths, only hand compressions.
The American Heart Association posted via Instagram saying, “break out the flannel shirts and ripped jeans and turn on some Pearl Jam and learn how to save a life with Hands-Only CPR. If you see a teen or adult collapse, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of ‘Even Flow’.”
Grunge music not your cup of tea???
The AHA has a few other suggestions:
“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
“El Club” by Bad Bunny
and Charli XCX has a few songs that are appropriate on her “Brat” album.
Michael Jackson released a song titled “Smooth Criminal” that includes the name of the body used in teaching CPR and incidentally the tempo of “Smooth Criminal” is 118 beats per minute – just inside the 105 to 120 bpm the Heart Association suggests.