These Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bee Gees Songs Could Help Save Your Life
You may be more prepared than you think to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, even if you've never done it before. That's the message New York-Presbyterian hospital is trying to re-enforce with a new Spotify playlist of songs with the ideal tempo for lifesaving chest compressions.
The 47 songs all maintain a pace of 100 to 120 beats per minute, the recommended soundtrack for saving a life. The playlist is dotted with some very familiar rockers, including Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."
Watch Queen Perform 'Another One Bites the Dust'
Queen's song title may be an unfortunate but appropriate choice for the list, which is called "Songs to Do CPR To," considering the procedure is only effective about eight percent of the time. Experts say recovery from cardiac arrest would double, however, if bystanders knew how to administer the compressions at a steady tempo.
"The main thing about CPR is maintaining high quality, fast compressions, so you don't want to lose steam," Sonia Tolani, a cardiologist at the hospital. Her experience rescuing a man on the subway lead to a new website that shows laymen who to perform CPR.
Listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd Perform 'Sweet Home Alabama'
The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" has long been touted as a model rhythm for CPR, and others include Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2," Phil Collins "You Can't Hurry Love," Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia," and The Doors "Five to One" as well as Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror," Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," Hanson's "MMMBob," and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive."
Listen to Pink Floyd Perform 'Another Brock in the Wall Part 2'
Listen to the Doors Perform 'Five to One'
Watch the Bee Gees Perform 'Stayin' Alive'