- Smillie starts by telling viewers to call 999 if they find someone unconscious
- The Changing Rooms presenter then performs CPR at 100 beats a minute
- This is the speed the NHS recommends people do chest compressions
- People should reach the song’s 500 compressions by the time help arrives
- As few as one in 20 people survive cardiac arrests despite others doing CPR
TV personality Carol Smillie appears in a video urging people to perform life-saving CPR to the beat of The Proclaimers’ anthem I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).
The video, which is supported by the Scottish Government, starts with Smillie, 56, telling people to call an ambulance if someone is not breathing or their heart has stopped.
Smillie, famous for presenting Changing Rooms, can then be seen performing CPR while singing the disco favourite, which has around 100 beats per minute and is the speed the NHS recommends people carry out chest compressions.
She adds those performing the first aid should be able to reach the song’s 500 compressions by the time an ambulance arrives.
The Bee Gees’ hit Stayin’ Alive used to be hailed the ideal tune to perform CPR to and was promoted in a video featuring former footballer Vinnie Jones, however, although it has 100 beats a minute, it does not encourage people to keep going.
As few as one in 20 people survive cardiac arrests despite others attempting resuscitation via CPR.
TV personality Carol Smillie, famous for presenting Changing Rooms, appears in a video urging people to perform life-saving CPR to the beat of The Proclaimers’ anthem 500 Miles
She sings people should be able to reach 500 compressions by the time an ambulance arrives
The video opens with Smillie telling people to call an ambulance if someone is unconscious
‘The song makes it memorable’
The video ends with Smillie telling people performing CPR to:
- Call 999
- Push down to the beat of ‘500 miles’
- Keep going until an ambulance arrives
Critical care nurse Lisa MacInnes told Nursing Standard: ‘The song is perfect for this because it takes a very serious subject and presents it in a fun and light-hearted way, which makes it memorable and helps raise awareness so much faster.
‘The aim is to perform the presses to the rhythm of the song, but given the advice is usually to aim for around 100 presses per minute, people should be able to reach the 500 in the title by the time an ambulance arrives.’
The video is part of a larger campaign, called Save a Life for Scotland, which aims to increase the number of people trained in CPR.
Ms MacInnes added: ‘We’ve already seen data suggesting 70 extra lives a year are being saved.
‘We want to reach 1,000 a year by 2020.’
When doing CPR, she instructs people to place two hands in the centre of the person’s chest
How to do CPR
According to NHS Choices, to carry out a chest compression:
- Place the heel of your hand on the person’s breastbone at the centre of their chest with the other hand on top and interlock your fingers
- Position your shoulders above your hands
- Using your body weight, press down by 5-to-6cm on their chest
- Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow their chest to return to its original position
- Repeat these compressions at a rate of 100-to-120 per minute until an ambulance arrives.
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