CPR

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency medical procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest. CPR consists of the combination of artificial blood circulation with artificial respiration i.e., chest compressions and lung ventilation. CPR is unlikely to restart the heart, but rather its purpose is to maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart, thereby delaying tissue death and extending the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage. Defibrillation and advanced life support are usually needed to restart the heart.

CPR is often severely misrepresented in movies and television as being highly effective in resuscitating a person who is not breathing and has no circulation. A 1996 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that CPR success rates in television shows was 75%. The study concluded that survival rates on TV shows were siginificantly higher than the most optimistic survival rates in the medical literature, and expressed a worry that the portrayal of CPR on television may lead the viewing public to have an unrealistic impression of CPR and its chances for success.

This is certainly true when it comes to further representation of CPR in fanfic. Though no scientific study has been made to the extent of the NEJM, fanfic, badfic in particular, will show a 100% survival rate, and often CPR will restart the heart. CPR is used as a plot device in hurt/comfort fics, bringing the victim and the rescuer closer together. The procedure is often followed up with healing sex. Because it involves mouth-to-mouth, CPR is also thought suitable for the rescuer / reluctant party in a not-yet-established relationship to realise how wonderful it would be to kiss the victim.

Badly represented CPR is a charge as it is a form of bad medicine.

Agents can be overenthusiastic about using this technique on their lust-objects, but since new guidelines of performing CPR endorsed the effectiveness of chest compressions alone--without artificial respiration--for adult victims who collapse suddenly in cardiac arrest this practice is likely to stop soon. Evil tongues have whispered that the Flowers are behind these new guidelines.