Who says music doesn’t save lives?
In an effort to help train first responders in hands-only CPR, New York Presbyterian Hospital has released a 40-song playlist whose beats per minute match the number of chest compressions.
Most people are familiar with The Bee Gees’ 1977 hit – and aptly named – Stayin’ Alive which took the number one spot.
Artists from Beyoncé to Justin Timberlake to ABBA also had songs on the set list.
Scroll down to listen to the playlist
On a 40-track playlist released by New York Presbyterian Hospital, Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees came out as the best song to perform CPR to
TOP 10 SONGS FOR SAVING LIVES
- Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
- Cecilia – Simon and Garfunkel
- Hard to Handle – The Black Crowes
- Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
- I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
- MMMBop – Hanson
- Gives You Hell – The All-American Rejects
- Heartbreaker – Mariah Carey ft Jay Z
- Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
Stayin’ Alive, the disco hit made popular by the movie Saturday Night Fever, has a rhythm of 103 beats per minute.
This is close to the recommended rate of at least 100 chest compressions per 60 seconds that should be delivered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Additionally, doctors say, the song is well known enough to be useful in teaching the general public to effectively perform the lifesaving maneuver.
The 40-song list, which has a duration rate of two hours and 28 minutes of CPR jams, also includes songs like ABBA’s Dancing Queen and Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love.
Pop fans can enjoy tracks from Missy Elliot and Justin Timberlake, while alt-rock aficionados can choose from Fall Out Boy or the All-American Rejects.
Despite the number of times CPR ‘saves’ someone’s life on TV, it has an abysmal success rate in real life.
Only about eight percent of CPR patients are saved by the procedure, even when backup help is called immediately.
Those who’ve had to be saved with CPR are likely to experience other painful injuries, as well, such as crushed or ruptured organs.
However, performing CPR more than doubles the survival rate of patients who go into cardiac arrest.