‘Tongue swallowing prevention maneuvers’ delay CPR, might contribute to mind harm or dying for collapsed athletes

Regardless of widespread public well being efforts, the harmful fantasy of “prevention of tongue-swallowing” continues to persist throughout cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). New analysis within the Canadian Journal of Cardiology exposes the mainstream and social media’s detrimental position in perpetuating this false impression, which frequently results in vital delays in correct CPR for collapsed athletes.

Concern about “tongue-swallowing” leads resuscitators to waste useful time attempting to take away the tongue from the airway path, moderately than instantly initiating important CPR procedures. The findings from this evaluation underscore an pressing want for world public well being campaigns to appropriate CPR myths and emphasize the significance of speedy chest compressions. The research systematically analyzed 45 instances of athletes collapsing throughout sports activities occasions (1990–2024) that have been caught on video or documented on-line, specializing in preliminary resuscitation actions and corresponding media protection.

Commenting on the primary findings of the evaluation, Dana Viskin, MD—the lead investigator of the article titled “The Fable of “Tongue Swallowing’ Delays Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Athletes With Cardiac Arrest, But It Is Typically Perpetuated by the Media,”—says, “Our evaluation confirmed that in 84% of instances the place the preliminary response was seen, inappropriate maneuvers to ‘forestall tongue-swallowing’ have been carried out earlier than correct CPR. These incorrect actions have been considerably related to poor outcomes: 67% of these receiving such maneuvers died or had extreme mind harm, in comparison with 0% when CPR was the primary response.”

Dr. Viskin is from the Division of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Heart and College of Drugs, Tel Aviv College.

Media evaluation revealed that almost half (48%) of high-exposure information articles explicitly used the time period “tongue-swallowing,” with most praising the lay responder for his or her actions. In articles describing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) instances, 77% referenced “tongue-swallowing” with out acknowledging its inappropriateness as a response to SCA, but solely 23% explicitly criticized the intervention.

“On condition that some SCA sufferers, significantly younger males with shockable arrest rhythms, could exhibit seizure-like exercise at onset—a sample incessantly noticed in sports-related SCA—it’s comprehensible how this fantasy could have carried into the general public response to athletic SCA, regardless of the absence of scientific guideline assist for such an intervention,” factors out Nicholas Grubic, MSc, the writer of the accompanying editorial, titled “Countering Misinformation within the Response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletes.” Grubic is from the Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana College of Public Well being, College of Toronto.

“Moreover, indicators equivalent to cyanosis and agonal respirations might be mistaken for choking, typically prompting bystanders to prioritize airway inspection over initiating CPR. Current qualitative analysis has confirmed that such misinterpretations can delay and even interrupt life-saving interventions. Though selling CPR and automatic exterior defibrillator (AED) information stays a cornerstone of SCA schooling, instructing the general public to acknowledge the early indicators of an arrest is equally vital, as each second with out motion drastically reduces the prospect of survival.”

This analysis is very necessary now, as public CPR schooling turns into more and more very important with widespread media publicity to cardiac arrests in sports activities.

“Our research highlights the harmful and protracted false impression of ‘tongue-swallowing prevention,’ which may delay the initiation of life-saving chest compressions. These delays could value lives, and but the media typically reward such misguided actions as heroic. We urgently have to re-educate the general public and the media and reframe the narrative round CPR, particularly in sports activities,” emphasizes Dr. Viskin.

Mr. Grubic provides in conclusion, “Coordinated, evidence-informed communication methods are important to counter misinformation and assist public understanding, significantly in high-stakes conditions such because the response to SCA in athletes. Our public capability to save lots of lives shouldn’t be impeded by misinformed voices—now’s the time for the tutorial, well being care, and media sectors to affix forces and construct a more healthy info setting for all.

“Responding to SCA is a crew sport that begins with correct schooling to make sure that everybody is able to step in, keep centered, and act. Though the prize just isn’t a trophy, it’s one thing far more useful.”