Music Tempo in Chest Compressions

[18millionminutesago]

I was always told that Staying Alive by The Bee Gees is/was the correct tempo for CPR compression rate. However, since the Bee gee’s are quite a bit older than me (and I was over disco music by the 8th grade), I set out to find other songs whose tempo match the correct compression rate in CPR. So far, I’ve discovered the Real Slim Shady by Eminem. According to the Mayo Clinic, the correct rate of compressions is 100-120 per minute. Know of any other songs?

Reference:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-CPR/basics/art-20056600

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well. If you have kids... Baby Shark works. Your coworkers might not like you too much if you sing it out loud though. (Seriously. When we did our code drill, someone was singing it out loud. It was stuck in my head for DAYS)

[Ioreth, ADN, RN]

Bad Romance by Lady Gaga was used in my last ACLS recert.

[JKL33]

Whenever this topic comes up I wonder how it works IRL. It isn't any kind of a given that people would sing a song to themselves at the published tempo.

It seems to me that when a person starts to fatigue just a little they aren't going to say to themselves "this song is faster, I need to go faster"....they're going to start singing slower to match the pace of what they can physically do.

How are people using this tool/idea? Whip out the phones and actually start playing "Stayin Alive" or "Rocky Your Body" or "Hips Don't Lie"...maybe a little MMMBop? Macarena?? ?

If not playing the actual songs then I doubt the accuracy. If playing the songs....?

Why not just use a CPR metronome app?

You can even also use a musical metronome app, use 4/4 timing and set it to 100 (or maybe 104ish).

[18millionminutesago]

Is it safe to save you have never had a song stuck in your head for 12+ hours?  You get the tempo right, eventually. I’m sure an app would work if you’re not the first to give compressions. 

[Ioreth, ADN, RN]

34 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

Why not just use a CPR metronome app?

If I remember right, our defibrillators all have an audible metronome on them that start up as soon as we turn it on. Your facility might have some like that too. But yes, the app is a good idea.

[JKL33]

42 minutes ago, 18millionminutesago said:

Is it safe to save you have never had a song stuck in your head for 12+ hours?

No it definitely isn't safe to say that. My life runs on music. ?

Don't take offense. I just think it's interesting and that it's possibly more a fun idea than a useful tool for most people. I think there's more to it, such as the issue I already mentioned of matching the singing to whatever speed of compressions you're doing as opposed to singing the song at perfect tempo and matching compressions to it.

33 minutes ago, Ioreth said:

If I remember right, our defibrillators all have an audible metronome on them that start up as soon as we turn it on. Your facility might have some like that too. But yes, the app is a good idea.

Yes, they do. I was thinking that this question pertained to other situations. I haven't heard anyone needing to sing anything in the ED.

 

Edit: Adding some studies from Google search:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313403875_Effectiveness_of_100_Beats_per_Minute_Music_on_Cardiopulmonary_Resuscitation_Compression_Rate_Education_A_Manikin_Study

https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/patient-safety/using-music-to-maintain-the-correct-rhythm-during-CPR-12-09-2014/

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I always think of the Muppet Show song when we're discussing CPR rates. However, when in the midst of compressions, I've never found myself actually singing the song. I generally keep an eye on the monitor every so often and count on whomever is recording to let me know if the tempo is far off. When I have been the recorder, I will call out the rate every minute or so for the person on compressions so they know where they are at.