Strange CPR: Supergirl

June 24th, 2009

Filed under: Comics, Medicine

Today’s example of bad comic book CPR comes from Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #3. In this scene, Superman and Supergirl are on a “family bonding” camping trip to a planet under a red sun. While there, Superman breaks his arm and then falls into a river and nearly drowns before Supergirl rescues him.

scene from Superman-Supergirl Maelstrom #3
Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom #3 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Phil Noto

cprAnother example of the straddle-the-chest style of CPR seen in comics — definitely not the recommended position in real life.

cprYou’ll notice that Supergirl is giving rescue breaths. As I mentioned yesterday, rescue breathing is no longer recommended for most CPR situations, but this is a near drowning scenario — one of the instances when rescue breathing is still recommended.
cprBut how can she give rescue breaths as shown when she’s sitting on his chest?
cprAnd to really nit-pick, she needs to tilt his head back to open the airway better. And keep her arms straight when giving compressions.

cpr

On the other hand, we know that Superman has some bizarre internal anatomy, so maybe this is Kryptonian style CPR…

8 Responses to “ Strange CPR: Supergirl ”

  1. goose
    June 25th, 2009 at 6:09 am

    Just took BLS, ACLS, and PALS. All still recommend 2 rescue breaths initially before beginning CPR. Also CPR is done is 30 compressions/2 breaths cycles (15 compressions in kids). However, what is new is that they say if the rescuer is uncomfortable with rescue breaths (aka no barrier device present), you can proceed directly to CPR.

  2. Scott
    June 25th, 2009 at 7:17 am
    Official Comment

    I’m not surprised that BLS/ACLS/PALS still teach the chest compression/rescue breathing because those are classes for medical professionals (or at least talented amateurs). Those classes still teach two-man CPR as well, which was removed from the CPR taught to the general public even before rescue breathing was.

    It is the CPR classes taught to the non-medical general public where the rescue breathing was removed (and the two man tag-team CPR as well). Though from what I hear there is some pressure to remove rescue breathing from all CPR.

  3. David Oakes
    June 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Obviously she learned CPR on humans, so she has to obstruct their airway and bend her arms lest she pulps them.

  4. theOriginalKeith
    June 26th, 2009 at 8:01 am

    You’ll notice that Supergirl also forgets to shot during CPR: See the previous and following posts. I believe the phrase “BREATHE – BREATHE DAMMIT!” is the form recommended by the International Red Cross.

  5. theOriginalKeith
    June 26th, 2009 at 8:02 am

    shout, rather.

  6. Sean Duggan
    June 26th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Actually, I think the bent arms got brought up in a previous entry on super-strength and CPR some months ago. As noted in the Captain America entry, the compressions are done with body weight rather than muscle, but given the screwy ways super-strength works in comic books (standing in front of a tank and stopping it, lifting a building all in one piece, lifting heavy weights without sinking into the ground), weight may not influene the super-strength all that much.

  7. alphamone
    June 26th, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    what bugs me the most is that supergirl seems to be blowing on the Philtrum rather than into the mouth.

  8. Mallan
    June 30th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Another important step in CPR, if all else fails, slap the person you’re trying to revive while yelling something, “Fight, dammit, fight!”

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