FREE SHIPPING
Over £100 (Mainland UK)
Over £100 (Mainland UK)
The Soundtrack to Saving a Life: CPR to Stayin’ Alive
If someone in your workplace, community or school suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, would you know what to do? Would you know that every second counts when it comes to helping them?
In an emergency, quick, effective CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) combined with the use of a defibrillator, if there is one available, can increase survival rates by as high as 50-70%.
However, if you’re not a trained first aider, or even if you are, when faced with such a stressful situation, it can be hard to stay calm and know whether you’re delivering compressions at the right rate.
This is where remembering the Bee Gee’ classic hit Stayin’ Alive could help you. The disco anthem that we all know isn’t just a great tune, it provides the perfect beat for lifesaving CPR.
Why does rhythm matter when it comes to CPR?
Being able to deliver effective chest compressions is essential for the success of any CPR you deliver. The recommended rate for compressions is 100-120 compressions per minute.
Why does this rate matter?
This speed ensures that blood is able to circulate to the brain and other vital organs until emergency services arrive on the scene.
Too slow, and the blood flow won’t be strong enough.
Too fast, and the compressions might be too shallow and less effective.
Keeping pace in the heat of an emergency isn’t easy but music can help.
Why Stayin’ Alive is the perfect CPR song
The tempo of Stayin’ Alive (around 103 beats per minute) sits right in the middle of the ideal chest compression rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. A study even showed that subjects were able to deliver chest compressions at an average rate of 113 beats per minute without having to listen to the music.
The steady rhythm of the song is easy to remember and hum along to when giving compressions. Other songs can be used too but as a popular song, Stayin’ Alive tends to be widely recognised as one of the best songs for CPR.
Are there other songs you can use for CPR?
Stayin’ Alive is a popular choice but it’s not the only one that works. So, if you don’t know it, there might be another popular song that will work and help you to respond quickly in an emergency.
The secret is to choose a song with a tempo of around 100-120 beats per minute (BPM) which will enable you to keep the right pace for effective chest compressions.
Here are some other well-known songs with the right rhythm:
-
Dancing Queen by Abba (101 BPM )
-
Another One Bites the Dust by Queen (110 BPM)
-
Hips Don’t Lie by Shakira (100 BPM)
-
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (117 BPM)
-
Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan (107 BPM)
-
Dance the Night by Dua Lipa (110 BPM)
You can even use Baby Shark if you need something simple and easy to remember!
The song you choose isn’t important. Keeping compressions going at the right rate and at the right depth is the crucial factor. The song will just help you to remember what to do in a stressful situation.
How do you use a song to deliver CPR?
If you find someone who’s unresponsive and not breathing properly, here are the steps you should take:
-
Check for responsiveness: Gently shake the person’s shoulders and ask if they’re. Shout for help if you can.
-
Call 999: If you find the person is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally, call 999, ask someone else to make the call and start CPR. This part is crucial because it can save precious seconds and help to increase survival rates if you can act quickly. The emergency call handler will walk you through the process once you get through to them.
-
Start chest compressions: Place the heel of your hand in the centre of the patient’s chest, put your other hand on top, fingers interlaced. Keep your arms straight and shoulders above your hands. Push down hard and fast (about 5-6cm deep) at 100-120 times per minute. Hum Stayin’ Alive or your chosen song to stay in rhythm.
-
Find a defibrillator: If you have someone with you, ask them to go and find a defibrillator. You should not leave the person to find a defibrillator, just continue providing CPR.
-
Use an AED: If an AED arrived, switch it on and follow the prompts it provides. It will tell you exactly what to do and determine whether or not a shock it required. It will then deliver the shock for you.
Why are defibrillators so important alongside CPR?
CPR will buy time and help to keep the patient’s blood pumping enough to keep them alive until the emergency services arrive. However, a defibrillator is the only thing that will allow the heart to return to its normal rhythm.
An AED will analyse the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock to restore a normal heartbeat. It can be used by anyone, whether they’re trained or not because it’s designed to automatically analyse the heart’s rhythm and only deliver a shock if its needed.
The combination of delivering CPR to the beat of Stayin’ Alive and early defibrillator use dramatically increases the chances of survival. This is why it’s so important that workplaces, schools, gyms, community centres and communities keep AEDs on-site and ensure that they’re accessible and that everyone knows where to find it.
Stay rescue ready with Defib4Life
At Defib4Life, our mission is to ensure that defibrillators are easily accessible and to ensure that as many people as possible feel confident in responding to a cardiac emergency. Seconds really make a difference so knowing exactly what you need to do will save precious time and help you to stay as calm as possible in a highly stressful situation.
Take a look at our full range of defibrillators to ensure that your organisation is prepared in an emergency.
Remember: if someone collapses, call 999, start CPR to the beat of Stayin’ Alive, and use the nearest AED.
It could help to save a life.
FAQs
1. Why is Stayin’ Alive used for CPR?
The Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive has a tempo of around 103 beats per minute which matches the recommended CPR compression rate of 100-120 per minute. The memorable title also reinforces the goal of keeping someone alive until help arrives.
2. What if I don’t know the full song?
You don’t need to know the whole song or even the correct words to deliver CPR. You just need to keep the beat in your head while delivering chest compressions to deliver them at the recommended rate.
3. Can I use other songs for CPR?
Yes. Any song between 100 to 120 beats per minute will work. There’s so many to choose from so choose something you know.
4. What if I can’t remember a song during an emergency?
Being a first responder is highly stressful so it’s understandable that you might not be able to remember anything at the time. Just focus on pushing hard and fast in the centre of the chest, around two compressions per second. Remember that if you’ve managed to call 999, they will stay on the phone to walk you through it or, if you manage to find a defibrillator, that will tell you what to do too.
Remember that doing something is far better than doing nothing.
5. When should I use a defibrillator alongside CPR?
Use an AED as soon as possible. CPR will circulate blood and oxygen, only a defibrillator can restore the normal heart rhythm. AEDs give clear voice instructions so anyone can use them confidently.
6. Where can I learn more about CPR?
Training courses are available from Defib4Life if you’d like you or your organisation to be fully trained in the use of a defibrillator or CPR. Other organisations also offer training.
The British Heart Foundation has its own app (RevivR) which provides a free, interactive, online CPR training course that can be completed in 15 minutes if you want a quick overview or a quick refresh of any training you’ve already done.