Music [specifically, the music you can hear in the video below] doeth save the heart, perhaps, when applied to an otherwise silent life-saving technique, suggests this study:
“‘Stayin’ Alive’: A Novel Mental Metronome to Maintain Compression Rates in Simulated Cardiac Arrests,” John W. Hafner, Jeremy L. Sturgell, David L. Matlock, Elizabeth G. Bockewitz, Lisa T. Barker,Journal of Emergency Medicine, epub March 22, 2012. The authors, at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, explain:
“Subjects were randomly paired and alternated administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) compressions on a mannequin during a standardized cardiac arrest scenario. While performing compressions, subjects listened to a digital recording of the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive,” and were asked to time compressions to the musical beat. After at least 5 weeks, the participants were retested without directly listening to the recorded music…. The mean compression rate during the primary assessment (with music) was 109.1, and during the secondary assessment (without music) the rate was 113.2….
“Conclusions: Medical providers trained to use a novel musical memory aid effectively maintained AHA guideline CPR compression rates initially and in long-term follow-up.”