The CPR you see on TV is often inaccurate, but it's still having a profound impact on real-life rescuers.
Research has shown that television characters who experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals are more likely to receive CPR than people in real life. However, these portrayals often perpetuate outdated practices and misinformation about who is most at risk for cardiac arrest and where it occurs.
According to new research from the University of Pittsburgh, watching characters jump to the rescue on TV can actually save lives - but only if viewers take away accurate information about how to administer hands-only CPR.
In a study that analyzed 165 studies on the effects of health content on scripted television, researchers found that TV stories can influence viewers' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. In this case, however, there was no previous research examining the impact of TV portrayals of CPR on real-life behavior.
The study's findings raise concerns about the accuracy of CPR depictions in TV shows, particularly when it comes to who receives CPR and where cardiac emergencies occur. For example, only 20% of on-screen cardiac arrests outside hospitals happened at home - a stark contrast to the real-world statistic that over 80% of non-hospital-based cardiac arrests occur at home.
Moreover, the study found that characters experiencing cardiac arrest on screen were significantly younger than those in real life and were more likely to be white and male. These inaccuracies could potentially mislead viewers about how to respond to a cardiac emergency and who may need CPR.
The American Heart Association's 2025 guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care emphasize the need for accurate portrayals of CPR on screen, with the goal of improving education and ultimately saving lives. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are working to better understand what viewers take away from TV depictions of CPR and collaborating with public health professionals to improve how CPR is portrayed in Hollywood.
While more research is needed, it's clear that scripted television has the power to inspire altruistic behavior - including lifesaving actions like performing CPR. By highlighting accurate portrayals of hands-only CPR, entertainment narratives may be a cost-effective way to improve education and ultimately save lives.
Research has shown that television characters who experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals are more likely to receive CPR than people in real life. However, these portrayals often perpetuate outdated practices and misinformation about who is most at risk for cardiac arrest and where it occurs.
According to new research from the University of Pittsburgh, watching characters jump to the rescue on TV can actually save lives - but only if viewers take away accurate information about how to administer hands-only CPR.
In a study that analyzed 165 studies on the effects of health content on scripted television, researchers found that TV stories can influence viewers' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors. In this case, however, there was no previous research examining the impact of TV portrayals of CPR on real-life behavior.
The study's findings raise concerns about the accuracy of CPR depictions in TV shows, particularly when it comes to who receives CPR and where cardiac emergencies occur. For example, only 20% of on-screen cardiac arrests outside hospitals happened at home - a stark contrast to the real-world statistic that over 80% of non-hospital-based cardiac arrests occur at home.
Moreover, the study found that characters experiencing cardiac arrest on screen were significantly younger than those in real life and were more likely to be white and male. These inaccuracies could potentially mislead viewers about how to respond to a cardiac emergency and who may need CPR.
The American Heart Association's 2025 guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care emphasize the need for accurate portrayals of CPR on screen, with the goal of improving education and ultimately saving lives. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are working to better understand what viewers take away from TV depictions of CPR and collaborating with public health professionals to improve how CPR is portrayed in Hollywood.
While more research is needed, it's clear that scripted television has the power to inspire altruistic behavior - including lifesaving actions like performing CPR. By highlighting accurate portrayals of hands-only CPR, entertainment narratives may be a cost-effective way to improve education and ultimately save lives.
I think this is wild! The thing is, we've all seen those scenes on TV where someone's just chillin' on the couch and then suddenly clutches their chest - yeah, that never happens in real life... right? 
It turns out it actually does happen at home, way more often than you'd think! The stats are crazy - 80% of non-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, but on TV only 20% do. That's a huge difference!
... the fact that scripted TV shows can inspire altruistic behavior like performing CPR is amazing! But we gotta make sure these portrayals are accurate, you know? Like, I've seen so many times on TV where people get CPR at the gym or somewhere else outside of a hospital, but in real life its way more common for it to happen at home 
. We need to be careful not to mislead viewers about who needs CPR and where cardiac emergencies occur. Its all about being informed and taking away accurate info from those TV shows 
, I just learned this crazy thing about CPR on TV! Apparently, it's not always as cool and heroic as it looks on screen 
. It turns out that TV characters are more likely to get CPR done than people in real life... but only if the show gets it right 
.
. But still, it's kinda cool that scripted TV can actually inspire people to do CPR... if the show gets it right, of course 
. Maybe Hollywood will start making some changes? 
Fingers crossed!
. I mean, who gets cardiac arrest on set at 3 am? Only a handful of people, right? 
. It can be super confusing for people who might actually need to know how to respond in a real emergency situation. So yeah, let's hope these new guidelines from the American Heart Association make it into TV shows ASAP 