CPR: A Business and Not a Rescue Technique by Gregory L. Henry, MD
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 
Gregory L. Henry, MDAs I sit here looking at the website’s comments on the NBC News piece on CPR presented last night, I am reminded that the only thing new in the world is the history that you do not know. I have no idea what the big hoopla is about the fact that mouth to mouth breathing doesn’t work. In infants and children breath for them, it is probably the problem. In adults, it isn’t the problem. Everybody’s data for the last 10 years has said blowing in their mouth makes no difference. I don’t know about you but the thought of having to blow in the mouth of people I do not know in an era of strange and unusual diseases, is not appealing. The Japanese, the Swedes and the Koreans all have papers that say the same thing. It doesn’t matter what you do in breathing for patients, the outcome is the same. There is a very select group of people who I think deserve CPR. CPR was never intended for grandma at 90 with cancer and about to die anyway. Where this came from, I have no idea. Television has portrayed CPR as something that works. Nothing could be further from the truth. It warms my heart to see that there is finally some intelligent discussion about this entire process. CPR has become a business in the United States and not a rescue technique. Heaven forbid the American Heart Association and the Red Cross would have to change their programs to conform to scientific fact. The truth of the matter is if you need CPR your changes of walking out of the hospital are incredibly small. Let’s bring some rationality to this endeavor.
Reader Comments (5)
Greg - CPR training is definitely a money spinner for community training organizations - I recently saw a certificate of completion that showed the CPR certification was only valid for a year. So , a registered training organization has a ready market in training and re-training the entire community in CPR.
Sue
Totally agree with the science and facts part. P.S. I don't think you need CPR.
CPR - is life save procedure....every body should learn this, it's help every body and anytime.
but i agree CPR certification it was not valid after one year, it's really difficult every time have to renewal...
CPR - is life save procedure....every body should learn this, it's help every body and anytime.
but i agree CPR certification it was not valid after one year, it's really difficult every time have to renewal...
I would encourage anyone to learn CPR.
Any reputable school or teaching facility should give a cpr certificate good for 2 years.
After two years you will need to take a refresher course.