I knew the season premiere of Mad Men was going to be awesome when they coupled two of my favorite things. Chest compressions followed by the opening Canto of Dante’s Inferno read by Don Draper – yes please!
However, I will set aside my love of Don Draper reading Dante’s Inferno (sigh) and focus instead on the Red Cross Angle of this tale.
Don and Megan are just returning home when they watch their doorman suffer from a cardiac arrest and fall to the floor. Now, it has been proven that there is an increase of heart attacks during the holiday season, because of additional stress and overindulgence tend to increase strain on the heart.
Luckily, Don’s neighbor Arnie steps in and (almost) follows current Red Cross Protocol for responding to an emergency situation. Which do you think doesn’t belong?
1) Checks around – sees if the person will respond
2) Calls for Don to help open the doorman’s coat
3) Calls for someone to call an ambulance
4) Administers CPR
You’re right – #2 doesn’t really belong in this series of events. If someone suffers from a cardiac arrest, your best best is jump straight into administering CPR (or hands only CPR). Taking ANY kind of action like this dramatically increases the likelihood that the individual suffering from cardiac arrest will survive.
Now, if I was to nit pick just a little – the chest compressions were awfully slow. We usually recommend performing CPR to one of these fine hits:
The Beegees – Staying Alive
Jennifer Lopez – Jenny From the Block
Rod Stewart – Forever Young