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From: jan@ascvax.UUCP (Jan Woellhaf)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: CPR as portrayed on TV.
Message-ID: <122@ascvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 14:49:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ascvax.122
Posted: Mon Feb 10 14:49:18 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 02:09:39 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Ampex Switcher, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Lines: 27

I've had several hundred hours training in emergency medicine, including both
Red Cross and Heart Association CPR instruction.  I've observed that the CPR
simulated on TV shows like "St. Elsewhere" is almost never done correctly.
Even genuine CPR shown on news programs is often being done incorrectly.  A
person whose only exposure to CPR is watching these scenes is almost certain
to learn incorrect technique.

Since even perfectly performed CPR is most often unsuccessful in saving a
life, incorrect CPR must be less effective.  I think the primary issue is not
that improper CPR may cause serious injury to the patient, but rather that
incorrect CPR may be completely ineffective.

In the past couple weeks, I've assisted in the unsuccessful resuscitation of
two individuals.  Both had been without pulse or respiration for several
minutes before we arrived.  Witnesses had not begun CPR immediately.  Both
patients died despite advanced cardiac life support administered at the scene
and at the hospital emergency department.  Perhaps if CPR had been properly
performed by the witnesses both these people would still be alive.

You cannot learn correct CPR from watching TV shows or from reading CPR
manuals.  Therefore, I urge all those who have not already done so to enroll
in a CPR course.  Please take the longest course available.  This will give
you more time to practice correct CPR on a mannequin, and this is by far the
most important aspect of any CPR course.

    Jan Woellhaf, EMT, Firefighter
    Wheat Ridge Fire Department