Regardless of widespread public well being efforts, the damaging fantasy of “prevention of tongue-swallowing” continues to persist throughout cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). New analysis within the Canadian Journal of Cardiology exposes the mainstream and social media’s detrimental function in perpetuating this false impression, which regularly results in crucial delays in correct CPR for collapsed athletes.
Concern about “tongue-swallowing” leads resuscitators to waste useful time making an attempt to take away the tongue from the airway path, fairly than instantly initiating important CPR procedures. The findings from this evaluation underscore an pressing want for international public well being campaigns to appropriate CPR myths and emphasize the significance of fast chest compressions. The research systematically analyzed 45 instances of athletes collapsing throughout sports activities occasions (1990–2024) that had been caught on video or documented on-line, specializing in preliminary resuscitation actions and corresponding media protection.
Commenting on the principle findings of the evaluation, Dana Viskin, MD—the lead investigator of the article titled “The Fantasy of “Tongue Swallowing’ Delays Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Athletes With Cardiac Arrest, But It Is Usually Perpetuated by the Media,”—says, “Our evaluation confirmed that in 84% of instances the place the preliminary response was seen, inappropriate maneuvers to ‘forestall tongue-swallowing’ had been carried out earlier than correct CPR. These incorrect actions had been considerably related to poor outcomes: 67% of these receiving such maneuvers died or had extreme mind harm, in comparison with 0% when CPR was the primary response.”
Dr. Viskin is from the Division of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Middle and College of Medication, Tel Aviv College.
Media evaluation revealed that almost half (48%) of high-exposure information articles explicitly used the time period “tongue-swallowing,” with most praising the lay responder for his or her actions. In articles describing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) instances, 77% referenced “tongue-swallowing” with out acknowledging its inappropriateness as a response to SCA, but solely 23% explicitly criticized the intervention.
“On condition that some SCA sufferers, notably younger males with shockable arrest rhythms, might exhibit seizure-like exercise at onset—a sample ceaselessly noticed in sports-related SCA—it’s comprehensible how this fantasy might have carried into the general public response to athletic SCA, regardless of the absence of scientific guideline help for such an intervention,” factors out Nicholas Grubic, MSc, the writer of the accompanying editorial, titled “Countering Misinformation within the Response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletes.” Grubic is from the Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana College of Public Well being, College of Toronto.
“Moreover, indicators similar to cyanosis and agonal respirations could be mistaken for choking, typically prompting bystanders to prioritize airway inspection over initiating CPR. Latest qualitative analysis has confirmed that such misinterpretations can delay and even interrupt life-saving interventions. Though selling CPR and automatic exterior defibrillator (AED) data stays a cornerstone of SCA schooling, instructing the general public to acknowledge the early indicators of an arrest is equally crucial, as each second with out motion drastically reduces the prospect of survival.”
This analysis is very necessary now, as public CPR schooling turns into more and more important with widespread media publicity to cardiac arrests in sports activities.
“Our research highlights the damaging and chronic false impression of ‘tongue-swallowing prevention,’ which may delay the initiation of life-saving chest compressions. These delays might value lives, and but the media typically reward such misguided actions as heroic. We urgently must re-educate the general public and the media and reframe the narrative round CPR, particularly in sports activities,” emphasizes Dr. Viskin.
Mr. Grubic provides in conclusion, “Coordinated, evidence-informed communication methods are important to counter misinformation and help public understanding, notably in high-stakes conditions such because the response to SCA in athletes. Our public capability to avoid wasting lives shouldn’t be impeded by misinformed voices—now could be the time for the tutorial, well being care, and media sectors to hitch forces and construct a more healthy info surroundings for all.
“Responding to SCA is a staff sport that begins with correct schooling to make sure that everybody is able to step in, keep centered, and act. Though the prize just isn’t a trophy, it’s one thing way more useful.”
Extra info:
The Fantasy of “Tongue Swallowing” Delays Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation of Athletes With Cardiac Arrest, But It Is Usually Perpetuated by the Media, Canadian Journal of Cardiology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2025.06.002
Editorial: doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2025.07.001
Quotation:
‘Tongue swallowing prevention maneuvers’ delay CPR, may contribute to mind harm or demise for collapsed athletes (2025, July 30)
retrieved 30 July 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-07-tongue-swallowing-maneuvers-delay-cpr.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any truthful dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is supplied for info functions solely.
