I'm sorry if there's already a thread on this, but I couldn't find one - I was shocked to see such an inaccurate portrayal of CPR in Doctor Who of all places, whose primary audience will have no first aid training. Anyone young watching is likely to imitate what is seen in a real-life resuscitation situation with no further knowledge to replace it for years yet, and the CPR Amy was doing would not maximise chances of survival.

The rhythm was wrong, there were no initial rescue breaths at the start (ESSENTIAL for drowning victims) and instead of the usual 30-2 pattern advised by Red Cross, SJA and so on, she seemed to follow the 'dramatic licence' pattern with 6-1, though I should state the scene would have still been the same length had it shown slightly more correct CPR. I was half-expecting them to bring it up in Confidential, but it was glossed right over there too.

I bring this up because I know shows like Casualty are pretty careful with first aid to only to show proper examples of first-aid techniques or not show them at all, as they are aware they can be imitated - as such it's a little surprising to see it done SO badly in a programme watched by a far wider audience with far less medical knowledge on average! In my opinion it should have been done properly or not at all - it should not be butchered for the sake of making a scene slightly more dramatic. Unless anyone can find a source that recommends the very strange compression cycle Amy used?

What I also noticed was that she didn't pinch his nose closed when doing the breaths which was a big error.

I was taught 10-2 about 12 years ago but I've read recently that it's now thought that the compressions are more important than the breaths - after all, even with compressions there's not much blood circulating so not much oxygen will get used.

But, really, people should not be learning CPR from watching TV fiction.

Even on Casualty, do they emphasise the importance of making sure that the heart is really stopped because of the danger of damaging it by performing CPR when it's pumping of its own accord? (Edit: After checking, apparently that advice has been changed in the last 10 or so years)

Real CPR breaks the ribcage, and even faking it can cause significant damage. If anyone attempts CPR just once from seeing it on a SciFi show then in certain countries you can even be sued for wilfully attempting it with poor knowledge. I seriously doubt that anyone would try having just seen one scene like this, and if they do, FTL of the person they try it on, for become ill in front of such a doof!

Before I comment, and I am bad at reading the signs, can someone confirm if this is a joke thread

For all we know Amy has never had any first aid training, and wouldn't know what she was doing. She was doing the best that she knew and was lucky it worked at all.

A myth.

It doesn't if done properly.

Like by a runaway strippogram in a flap about her husband dying?

Or even better, like by my recently qualified nurse friend, who was freaked when they told her 'not to worry' because it happens all the time, by experienced professionals?

Maybe I should have said 'can', but my point still stands- anyone who winds up on the end of a have a go hero's attempt is bound to be pretty sore afterwards, if they're lucky to get one who has at least a better chance than just 'oh, I saw it on the telly'.

Ok, in fear of being claxoned (a la Alan Davies)

OF COURSE her CPR was bad, she had only been explained the procedure a few minutes before.

I used to teach FAW, and her CPR portrayal was better than a lot of people I have seen after two full days training.

Also, unless you are trying to touch the casualties spine with their sternum, and are at least 15 stone then breaking the rib cage is a myth.

Someone who's never done it is more likely to be doing it too weakly than too hard. Amy was doing it much too lightly.


Medical professionals are known to have a wicked sense of humour. The real reason not to worry is that it's very unlikely to happen.

The human ribcage is pretty strong and you'd have to be quite inept to break someone's rib. Of course, if the victim was old and/or suffering from osteoporosis ...

also did you see the way they tried to open the sails in a storm it would have ripped the sails apart.

Also did you see the way they all had nice teeth

also did you see the way amy suddenly became a sword fighter

also did you see the way the woman with an eye patch turned up on a boat

also did you see the way there was an alien on a pirate ship....

COME ON GUYS ITS FICTION!!!!!!!

You forgot to mention the way in which the Tardis disappears into thin air...its just not possible I tell you!

Thats no excuse for getting the things we know about so wrong.

As I said in the other thread on this subject, I don't think anyone should worry or be concerned about teaching the wrong method, but what they did, did not look very realistic. Therefore I was thinking more about their poor resuscitation technique than the story

See my post #9 above, it looked ok for someone just taught the theory a few minutes before the attempted practical.

This was my whole point on another thread where this was mentioned.

Amy had never done it before, had it explained to her quickly in a traumatic situation and was also dealing with someone she loved - can we really blame her for not getting it right?

We didn't hear Rory explaining what she needed to do - he may have rushed through his explanantion - blow into my mouth and then push down on my chest with both hands, about where my heart is and keep going until it works? He probably didn't think to mention numbers, holding the nose, etc.

Now yes - common sense would suggest that its obvious you need to pinch the nose - but she was not thinking in a calm and rational way and this is the important bit.

Now if we were watching this on Casualty or similar where the actors are portraying life saving procedures in a medical setting, where you would expect to see it done properly then yes we would expect to see it done correctly.

Yes perhaps the BBC should have been a little more realistic and responsible but I think that had Amy have been performing CPR correctly when it was clear she'd never done it before the scene would just not have worked.

It is quite easy to break the ribcage when doing CPR correctly.

I thought Amy's technique was dire and said so on the discussion thread for that episode.

Was it okay for someone that was supposed to have administered it successfully? Do you think Rory would have survived, given that technique?

I did notice that the CPR was badly portrayed but I wasn't watching DW to learn anything so although I'm usually pedantic, I'm prepared to overlook this because it's just entertainment and I'm just glad it worked!
As for children trying it out on their friends, I'm sure when I was younger we would do "CPR" whilst playing and obviously apart from casualty we didn't have a clue how it was done. We weren't strong enough to break ribs and I remember taking my 1st first aid course when I was about 9 which gave us practice with those rescusi anne dolls and told us how dangerous it was to perform on someone who didn't need it. After that there was no chance of us trying it just in case we hurt somebody.
Basically I can't see how anyone could come to harm from the inaccuracies, people/children who didn't know how to do CPR would be just as bad after TCOTBS as before it and people/children who do know how to do it obviously won't copy it.
Incidentally, I was taught that the rhythm required was the same as in "Nellie the elephant"! It's helped me remember it but how accurate is that and how does it compare to your 20/2? I'm afraid I don't know what that means

Sorry, but it most certainly is not!

Unless old person, very small child or someone suffering with a bone disorder!

It is virtually impossible for a normal healthy adult to have their rib cage broken after CPR. Bruising yes, broken no!

Thing is this isnt casualty or a documentry its a ficton show. I do understand where people are coming from but if we took everything litreley then we would never watch the show!!!

Depends whether his heart actually stopped... my husband has just completed a weeks FAW course and was told that if the heart has stopped, CPR will not restart it - you need a defib for that - but it will keep the patient 'alive' until professional medical help arrives.

I think the OP has a point that it should have been carried out correctly, especially as Nurse Rory said he would tell Amy how to do it, so children watching would think this was what to do. However this topic has already been discussed to death in the COBS thread, so IMO there's no need to do CPR on it and revive it again,

But looking on the bright side, at least kids will know how to do sword fighting correctly now, thanks to the lessons Karen had, prior to filming.

Not the point, it is unlikely he would have survived the technique but this is Hollywood CPR, some suspension of disbelief is in order I feel!

Ok, this thread is spinning out of control. I'm off!

I hear the claxon!

I'm a qualified First Aider and employed in the medical profession. Please leave the thread or apologise.