You're Doing It Wrong: Exposing CPR Myths

by Dr. Mary Williams, R.N. D.C.

Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can be a life-saving action to assist others when the heart stops beating. Although professionals have training and certification to perform this procedure, bystanders can also jump in to perform CPR in an emergency. A number of myths surround CPR and the administration of this type of first aid. Some fallacies have stemmed from the media, while other myths have arisen from incorrect teaching methods. Myths can develop and spread wildly thanks to the Internet. Although CPR training to gain certification is a valuable pursuit, even people without any formal training can step forward to try to save a life in a health emergency.

 

Pounding on the Chest

Movies and television shows often show an unconscious person whose heart has stopped beating. When this happens, a doctor or a bystander intervenes by delivering a single blow to the chest. Invariably, the victim sputters and revives after this blow. Medical professionals call this procedure a "precordial thump." As effective as it would seem to be, the truth is much less impressive. To be effective, the thump must occur at a precise moment, and it must impact the heart at just the right location. With this limited window of effectiveness, the precordial thump is not a preferred way to restart someone's heart.

• The Precordial Thump: Good, Bad, or Ugly?
• Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation (PDF)
• Resuscitation Skills: Precordial Thump

Cough CPR

Cough CPR is another misunderstood and misapplied first aid procedure. The American Heart Association has released information stating that it does not endorse this technique. When someone experiences an abnormal heart rhythm, the person may cough or gasp at times. The myth involves the belief that coughing at intervals will help maintain blood flow. However, coughing is not sufficient for maintaining enough blood flow. Specific situations may occur in the hospital when physicians or other professionals direct a patient to cough forcefully. However, health care professionals do not recommend the use of cough CPR anywhere but in a hospital setting.

• Adult First Aid (PDF)
• Cough CPR
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Cure This Contagious Rumor: Coughing Won't Fend Off a Heart Attack
• Can You Cough Away a Heart Attack?
• Disregard That Internet Chain Letter About "Cough CPR"
• Could Something Called "Cough CPR" Save My Life?
• Cough Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Revisited

Mouth-to-Mouth Is Not Mandatory

A persistent myth about CPR is the need for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Current research has indicated that hands-only CPR with just chest compressions is beneficial when an emergency occurs. Performing chest compressions is surprisingly simple, and many bystanders would be able to intervene to perform this type of first aid. The steps to perform in this situation involve calling 911 and then beginning to push forcefully and quickly on the center of the victim's chest. This process can be life-saving, and it does not require administration of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to be effective.

• Frequently Asked Questions About Chest-Compression-Only CPR
• Hands-Only CPR for Adults Who Suddenly Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• Chest-Compression-Only CPR by Lay Rescuers and Survival From Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (PDF)
• CPR in Two Simple Steps: Hands-Only CPR

Incorrectly Performed CPR Will Not Harm

Bystanders often don't know precisely what to do in an emergency. When confronted with this situation, people may think that they can't or shouldn't do anything to assist a victim. However, this is untrue. Even without formal training, bystanders can step forward to provide effective assistance in a health emergency. The truth is that more harm will occur from not performing CPR than from performing it, even without training. It's unlikely that an untrained person will injure a victim who is experiencing cardiac arrest by performing chest compressions.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• CPR FAQs (PDF)
• CPR Skills (PDF)
• Bystander CPR, Disparities, and Technology
• Experts Say CPR by Untrained Bystander a Good Idea
• Untrained Bystanders Hold the Key to Reducing the Number of Deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Why Are Bystander CPR Rates So Low?
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

The Purpose of CPR

The purpose of performing CPR is not to restart the heart. On the contrary, the purpose of performing chest compressions is to maintain blood flow throughout the body until emergency assistance arrives at the scene. By maintaining blood flow, the victim has a higher chance of surviving the event because the brain and other vital organs will continue to receive crucial oxygen. Emergency responders can then take over to try to restart the heart.

• Overview of CPR
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• CPR and First Aid Training (PDF)
• The ABCs of CPR (PDF)