How a Song Can Save a Life

Each year, more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital. Early intervention by CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation can save lives.

According to the American Heart Association, compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute are ideal—the same tempo rate as many popular songs. An easily remembered song can help you learn to keep pace in a stressful cardiac situation whether you train for CPR certification, are CPR-certified or just want to remember the compression for hands-only CPR.

What is CPR?

A person is in cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating. Performing CPR helps to circulate blood and provide oxygen throughout the body. CPR requires formal training, certification and includes mouth-to-mouth breaths, while hands-only CPR can be done by the general public by pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest of a person in cardiac arrest. Regardless of the type of CPR, when someone is in cardiac arrest, the first step is to call or ask someone to call 9-1-1 immediately.

When a teenager or adult collapses because of cardiac arrest at home, school, work or elsewhere in the community and a defibrillator is not available, CPR can save that person’s life. Anyone can save a life – regardless of formal training – by remembering to push hard and fast at the beat of one of these songs.

Check out our CPR Playlist:

Want to become CPR certified?

The Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation hosts twice monthly certification courses. For more information, visit SpringfieldCPR.com.

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