Thursday 10 March 2011

We Got Rhythm!

I know this isn't pre-hospital, but I just feel I must share something with you:

We had an elderly lady into the hospital, in cardiac arrest. So, she has no pulse and isn't breathing. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for Nursing Homes to call 999 when one of their residents dies, and this leads to a sequence of events, culminating in them arriving at the hospital, only to be certified a few minutes later.

Anyway, we start off as usual, continuing the cardiac massage. We need to compress the chest at a rate of 100 beats per minute, 30 beats followed by 2 breaths. It just so happens that the nursery rhyme "Nellie The Elephant" has just the right rate, and 2 verses makes exactly 30 beats. So, it is not uncommon to see the person providing the cardiac massage mouthing the words to "Nellie" while doing the compressions.

Today, one of my junior doctors demonstrated another song that fits the bill, of 100 beats per minute, 30 beats to a verse. However, while some of you may not think it is entirely appropriate to be mouthing "Nellie the Elephant" while attempting resuscitation, even I balked at the sound of my junior singing, fairly loudly, "Another One Bites The Dust", as she vainly tried to keep this lady alive.

12 comments:

  1. Another good one is apparently 'Staying Alive'. Not that we're allowed to teach these songs for keeping rhythm to anyone any more... I remember first leaning CPR to the tune of Nelly the Elephant :D

    (Sorry if you keep seeing this a lot of the time, I'm having trouble posting...)

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  2. I'm told 'Staying Alive' works too, if you want some disco?

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  3. Haven't heard of those songs being used - we were taught CPR to the beat of "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees. Which is kind of appropriate, and vaguely hopeful. Although I'll be singing Nellie the Elephant all day now. Thanks for that, Doc.

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  4. "Stayin Alive" works too, and has a good vibe for CPR!

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  5. That's the song I use - I find when I try to sing Nelly The Elephant I end up going at the pace of The Toy Doll's punk version (http://youtu.be/eti21PVHXrg).

    However, I do [i]try[/i] to not sing it out loud...

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  6. Or, Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees...

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  7. i think Stayin' Alive is more appropriate. relatively speaking.
    a good (in)appropriate song i play in the ambulance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS_DcqPkEYM

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  8. ok folks, you are all far worse than me!! I cannot believe the number of votes for "staying Alive". I see a research project in the making - Which song provides the best output during CPR. Maybe sponsored by a local radio station or a record label, perhaps. Oh no, might be a conflict of interest, especially if their song is chosen. Oh well, back to the drawing board!!

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  9. The theme tune of The Archers works too. It's my ringtone (blush) so I do a pretty consistent 100 compressions per minute.

    Presumably the new protocols of 100-120 compressions per minute will bring in a whole new album's worth of options.

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  10. Tessa, LOL The Archers! I am an Archers Fan.
    Incidentally, Elizabeth Pargeter has just been carted off to A&E with her possible heart problems......... Will remember the theme when I am next doing CPR practice.

    Perhaps we could put together a CD training album for CPR!

    Kate, Essex

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  11. Start with Stayin' Alive.. After a couple of "No shock advised" switch to "another one bite the dust" .. If you got a b... who get a couple of beat once and a while, try "Alive again" by DJ Champion

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNuSjLgRGrU

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  12. "I see a research project in the making - Which song provides the best output during CPR.."

    haha, well it's very funny you should say that RRD: http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b4707.full

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