Unrealistic portrayals of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on television dramas are creating dangerous misconceptions and may be putting people off from performing the life-saving technique in real emergencies, new research warns.
The Gap Between Screen and Reality
A study from the University of Pittsburgh, published in the journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, analysed US television episodes depicting out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. The researchers found that fictional portrayals frequently deviate from current medical guidelines, potentially influencing viewers' confidence and actions.
Lead author Ore Fawole highlighted the scale of the issue, noting that people consume thousands of hours of television annually, often absorbing health information from these fictional scenarios. "People are gaining most of their health content from the stuff that they watch on TV," Fawole stated.
What TV Gets Wrong About CPR
The team reviewed 54 episodes from popular shows like Dexter, Homeland, and Breaking Bad, where a layperson administered CPR. Their analysis revealed a stark contrast with official advice:
- Only 16 episodes showed compression-only CPR, the method advocated for untrained bystanders.
- 26 episodes depicted rescue breaths being given alongside compressions.
- 23 showed a layperson checking for a pulse, a step not recommended for those without specific training.
Furthermore, the study found significant demographic inaccuracies. Over half of the fictional patients receiving CPR were under 40, whereas the real-world average age is 62. Only 20% of TV arrests occurred at home, despite this being the setting for roughly 80% of actual cases.
Official Guidance: Keep It Simple
Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the NHS have stressed since 2008 that untrained individuals should focus solely on performing chest compressions for adults in cardiac arrest. The aim is to remove barriers for bystanders who may feel uncomfortable with rescue breaths or checking a pulse.
Dr. Beth Hoffman, a co-author of the study, connected the research to community observations. "We often have people who ask when to check for a pulse or breaths... the results suggest people are being influenced by what they see on screen," she said.
The stakes are high in the UK. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) reports over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year. Globally, bystander CPR rates remain worryingly low, at just 35-45%.
Call to Action: Learn in 15 Minutes
Lizzie Moscardini, RevivR programme manager at the BHF, emphasised the power of television to shape behaviour, for better or worse. She pointed to the foundation's successful campaign with Vinnie Jones, which demonstrated hands-only CPR and gave people the confidence to act.
"This new research highlights the flip side: without following the most up-to-date advice, TV can also create confusion," Moscardini said.
She urged everyone to take a few minutes to learn the correct technique, noting that in the UK, a 999 call handler will talk a caller through starting chest compressions. The BHF's free online tool, RevivR, can teach the essential skills in just 15 minutes.
The message from health experts is clear: effective CPR doesn't require the complex, dramatic steps often shown on television. Simple, continuous chest compressions can double or triple a person's chance of survival until professional help arrives.
