Hands-only CPR

As retired cardiologists we are concerned that instruction to the public on hands-only cardiac resuscitation (CPR) may not being promulgated sufficiently in New Zealand.Citizen-initiated CPR has long been known to improve the chance of successful defibrillation by paramedics.1 Most cases of ventricular fibrillation happen outside hospital and most are witnessed by relatives or bystanders. Despite recent advances, defibrillation can still prevent more deaths from heart attack than any other treatment.2A recent meta-analysis of three randomised trials of dispatcher-assisted CPR has shown that hands-only CPR for victims of cardiac arrest gives more successful results than CPR with mouth to mouth respiration.3 (This of course does not apply to victims of respiratory arrest or drowning where artificial respiration should be given.)The fact that mouth-to-mouth respiration is unnecessary for heart attack victims, clearly makes CPR easier to learn and more likely to be aesthetically acceptable for many people. We are concerned that free information and free opportunities for training in hands-only CPR are insufficiently available in New Zealand.This contrasts with the situation in the United Kingdom4 where television advertising using the popular song \"Stayin' alive\", free training courses in localities and schools, and a free mobile application for Android and iPhones are all available. TV advertising in New Zealand would seem particularly likely to have an impact. Robin M Norris Kevin P O'Brien (k.p.obrien@xtra.co.nz} Retired cardiologists Auckland