EMS agencies across the country rose to the challenge this summer when asked to create educational music videos as part of the National Association of EMS Physicians® (NAEMSP®) CPR Challenge. In New York, Missouri, California and Alaska, EMS agencies created videos that not only teach bystanders how to do CPR, but also feature songs that can help them maintain the ideal rate for chest compressions (110 beats per minute).
From “Baby Shark” to the “Rocky” theme song, every music video offered potentially lifesaving information in a fun and entertaining way. However, only one video could win the contest portion of the challenge, which ended June 15, 2019. That video, chosen by the NAEMSP Board of Directors, was “Can’t Stop Compressing,” by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
“All of the videos entered deserved to win,” said NAEMSP President David K. Tan, MD, EMT-T, FAAEM, FAEMS, “but this one really went above and beyond.”
The LA County Fire Department will receive two free registrations to the NAEMSP Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, January 6–11, 2020. NAEMSP highly recommends watching and sharing all of the videos for both their creativity and educational value.
Winner: LA County Fire Department—“Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake. Watch the video.
Honorable Mentions:
- Anchorage Fire Department—“Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti (“Rocky” theme song). Watch the video.
- Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc.—“On the Floor” by Jennifer Lopez. Watch the video.
- Missouri EMS for Children—“Baby Shark” by Pinkfong. Watch the video.
Tan led the Clayton (Missouri) Fire Department in the in the video that launched the challenge, which used the song “More Than a Feeling” by Boston. Watch the video. NAEMSP did not consider this video as part of the contest.
Although the contest has ended, NAEMSP encourages EMS agencies to continue making videos. Bystander CPR can make a difference in cases of cardiac arrest, and NAEMSP hopes these videos encourage bystanders to step in and potentially save lives.