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TV's CPR Portrayals Mislead Viewers, Reinforce Real-World Disparities

New research reveals TV shows misrepresent CPR, showing younger, white recipients in wrong locations. These inaccurate portrayals may reinforce real-world disparities in who receives lifesaving help.

This research matters because television shapes public perception and behavior in ways that directly affect survival rates during medical emergencies. With over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the U.S., and immediate CPR capable of doubling or tripling survival chances, inaccurate media portrayals have life-or-death consequences. The study reveals how entertainment media may be reinforcing implicit biases that contribute to lower CPR rates for women, Black adults, and Latino adults—populations already facing healthcare disparities. By highlighting these discrepancies, the research provides a roadmap for media creators to portray CPR more accurately, potentially saving thousands of lives. For viewers, understanding that most cardiac arrests happen at home to older adults—not to young people in dramatic public settings—could motivate more people to learn simple Hands-Only CPR and be prepared to save family members. This connection between media representation and real-world health outcomes demonstrates how entertainment content can either perpetuate harmful stereotypes or become a powerful tool for public health education and equity.