Arizona man 'saves woman's life' with CPR he learned from watching The Office

Performing CPR to "Stayin' Alive" used to be recommended in the US as the song contains 103 beats per minute

A man with no proper CPR training managed to resuscitate a woman based on what he had learnt from a scene in The Office, according to local media reports.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, tyre shop technician Cross Scott was test driving a customer’s vehicle on 11 January when he saw a car pulled over with its hazard lights flashing.

He found an unconscious woman behind the wheel. Scott smashed the car window with a rock and, with no phone to call emergency services, he attempted to rescuscitate her.

“I’ve never prepared myself for CPR in my life,” Scott said. “I had no idea what I was doing.”

Fortunately, Scott had seen an episode of The Office where Steve Carrell’s character, also named (Michael) Scott, tells his staff to perform CPR to the tune of Bee Gees hit “Stayin’ Alive”.

Performing CPR to “Stayin’ Alive” used to be recommended in the US as the song contains 103 beats per minute. However, technology in medicine means that there are devices that can sense the pressure and rate of chest compressions.

Dr Jasmeet Soar, chair of the Resuscitation Council (UK), told the BBC in 2011: “I agree that alternative prompt and feedback devices are probably better than music for improving the rate and depth of chest compressions given to patients with cardiac arrest.

“More importantly, if someone has collapsed, is unconscious and unresponsive, and not breathing or just making occasional gasps, dial 999 and start chest compressions. Push hard at about two compressions per second.

“After 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths if you are trained – if not, just carry on giving chest compressions until expert help arrives.”

Courtney Slanaker, executive director of the Red Cross Southern Arizona chapter, told the Daily Star that “if you don’t do CPR, that victim will die. Don’t be afraid to act. Whatever you do will help that victim and hopefully prevent a death,” and confirmed that “Stayin’ Alive” is the correct rhythm for chest compressions.

Soon after, the woman apparently drew a breath and vomited, at which point Scott rolled her onto her side. Emergency services arrived at the scene 10 minutes later, telling Scott he might have saved the woman’s life.

Tucson Fire Department wouldn’t release any additional details about the incident other than that the woman was later released from hospital.