LIFE-SAVER SONGS

BURSTING into song while trying to save someone’s life might not seem appropriate – but it
could lead to a successful resuscitation according to
boffins at Coventry Univer-
sity.

Research by a team at the
university found that singing Nellie the Elephant while
performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) might help keep recommended compression rate of 100 beats per
minute.

A total of 130 untrained CPR staff and students were given a brief demonstration on a resuscitation manikin and had one minute to practice while listening to a metronome – a device that produces regular beats.

Then participants were asked to perform three sequences of continuous chest compressions each lasting one minute.

One was accompanied by no music, another with repeated choruses of Nellie the Elephant and finally listening to That’s the Way (I Like It) by KC and the Sunshine Band.

Both songs were chosen for their tempo – 105 beats per minute for Nellie the Elephant and 109bpm for the latter.

Results found just under a third of those listening to Nellie delivered compression rates close to 100bpm compared with 12 per cent for no music and nine per cent for KC and the Sunshine Band.

But it also increased the proportion of compressions delivered at an inadequate depth.

Professor Malcolm Woollard, Coventry University’s director of the pre-hospital, emergency and cardiovascular care applied research group, has been carrying out the research with a team.

The serving paramedic of 25 years said: “Nellie the Elephant along with The Archers has been recommended by resuscitation trainers for as long as I can remember, so people get the right compression rate.

“Although the method is a bit tongue-in-cheek the results are genuine and will hopefully help people to carry out CPR correctly.

“It’s important people are trained because it’s usually a friend or family member that will need CPR, so everyone should be motivated to learn.

“Although difficult to remember, there isn’t a bad way of
doing it, just ways of doing it better. You cause more harm by not attempting CPR at all and it’s a myth the procedure gets the heart going again. It doesn’t, it only keeps the blood pumping until paramedics arrive.

“Behind all this we are trying to find a good rhythm to help carry out CPR. But we’re still looking for that tune so
welcome any suggestions!”

What do you think? If you have any songs that could work write to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.