Television depictions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation frequently present misleading information about who is most likely to need emergency assistance and where out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur, according to research published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes. The analysis of 169 American scripted TV episodes aired since 2008 suggests these portrayals may contribute to real-world disparities in CPR administration, particularly affecting women, Black adults, and Latino adults.
Researchers found that less than 30% of the TV episodes accurately portrayed Hands-Only CPR, which involves calling 911 and beginning chest compressions. The American Heart Association endorsed this simplified method in 2008 to encourage more people to act quickly when witnessing a cardiac arrest. While Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be just as effective as conventional CPR in the critical first minutes after cardiac arrest in teens and adults, television programs often depicted different techniques.
The study revealed significant discrepancies between television portrayals and reality. More than half of CPR recipients on television were younger than 40, while real-life recipients average 62 years old. Television also misrepresented locations where cardiac arrests occur: while over 80% of actual out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, only about 20% were portrayed this way on screen. Instead, TV episodes more commonly showed cardiac arrests occurring in remote areas (37%) or public spaces (26%).
Perhaps most concerning were the demographic disparities mirrored between television and real life. Depictions commonly featured white adults and males as both recipients and providers of CPR, reflecting actual disparities where women and Black and Latino adults are less likely to receive CPR from lay rescuers. "It could be that what is on TV is a reflection of real-life, or that what people are watching on TV reinforces implicit biases or stereotypes that contribute to lower rates of CPR receipt," said Ore Fawole, first author of the research.
Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. Immediate CPR can double or triple survival rates, yet only about 40% of people experiencing cardiac arrest outside hospitals receive this immediate help, with even lower rates among specific demographic groups. The American Heart Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative aims to turn lay rescuers into lifesavers with a goal of doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
"We know that TV depictions of health topics can influence viewers," said senior author Beth L. Hoffman, Ph.D., M.P.H. "Considering the sheer number of people who watch TV, it's important to think of how to leverage this to improve the likelihood that people will perform CPR and save lives." The research suggests that accurate television portrayals could help close gaps in CPR administration disparities.
Despite the inaccuracies, television did present one encouraging statistic: 58% of fictional cardiac arrest victims received CPR, higher than the real-world rate of approximately 40%. This suggests television has the potential to normalize and encourage bystander intervention. "Wouldn't it be great if seeing CPR being used to save a life on TV motivated more people to act quickly if they witness an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?" said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., volunteer president of the American Heart Association.
The findings highlight the powerful role media can play in public health education and the importance of accurate representation in entertainment programming. As television reaches millions of viewers, researchers hope this analysis will encourage more accurate depictions that could ultimately save lives by increasing public willingness to perform CPR across all demographic groups.
