According to the latest data, bingeing your Swift-dominated playlists could be the key to nailing the resuscitation technique and saving someone’s life in an emergency.
When it comes to lifesaving advancements, few things can compare to the invention of CPR. We’ve been reminded of the steps involved since childhood, often refreshing our technique through a first aid course.
But, with everything going on in our busy lives, perfectly remembering the steps of a method we may rarely (if not ever) need to use can easily fall off our list of priorities.
Now, research reveals only five per cent of Aussies hold a current first aid qualification, with many simply unable to afford up-to-date training amidst the current cost of living crisis.
Alas, in an effort to reinstate the importance of learning CPR, piquing the engagement of younger generations, the Red Cross has decided to bring the lifesaving technique into 2024.
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While we’d all like to be the kind of people who spring into action during an emergency, seamlessly performing vigorous CPR on someone in need, most of us would more likely step aside, feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of remembering the correct procedures.
As important as first aid certifications are, retaining lifesaving information beyond a two-day course can feel like an impossible task for most people.
But as University of Wollongong psychology lecturer Tim Byron explains, music has proven to be a powerful tool when it comes to helping us access memories during moments of stress.
„For CPR in particular, being able to remember a song with a tempo in that range can be a really good thing,“ he says. „Most people are pretty good at being able to remember the tempo or pitch of a piece.“
The best new songs for CPR
You may be familiar with the past use of certain songs to ensure someone stays on rhythm while performing CPR, most notably the aptly named 1997 hit Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees.
Now, though Dua Lipa’s Dance The Night was officially voted the top song for CPR during a Red Cross campaign to find the resuscitation technique’s new soundtrack, pop superstar Taylor Swift has an undeniable knack for writing music to the rhythm of 100 to 120 beats per minute.
Unless CPR is performed at this correct pace (stimulating the natural rhythm of the human heart) pounding down on an unconscious person’s chest will do little more than potentially crack a few ribs.
So, when it comes to finding the perfect song to help you remember the right pace for administering CPR, it may be as simple as choosing your favourite Swift era.
Taylor’s best CPR tracks throughout the eras:
#1. Taylor Swift (Debut) – Picture To Burn
#2. Fearless – Love Story
#3. Speak Now – Sparks Fly
#4. Red – 22
#5. 1989 – Welcome To New York
#6. Reputation – Dress
#7. Lover – The Man
#8. Folklore – Mirrorball
#9. Evermore – Gold Rush
#10. Midnights – You’re On Your Own, Kid
Of course, nailing the timing of CPR is of little use unless you sufficiently understand how to administer the technique itself.
The latest musical search highlights the importance of engaging the younger generations in the importance of learning (and refreshing) CPR skills. Experts recommend enrolling in a refresher course every 12 months to ensure your skills remain up to date, and therefore more likely to effectively save a life.
With the risk of brain damage and death increasing every minute a person stops breathing, experts say CPR should always be performed in conjunction with calling emergency services (000).