Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Watch Rescue Breathing Video here) developed 1960: Children, anyone whose cardiac arrest likely due oxygen deprivation.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, known as CPR, a method of to rescue people who stop breathing, was actually a rather new system: it was developed in 1960. Now 50 years later, the American Heart Association is revising it’s guidelines. Rather than the proper method of ABC (airways, breathing, and then compression). They are teaching CAB: compression first. Why? Basically the “Homer Simpson” effect: Too many Americans, even those who have heard their guidelines who only know the compression part and not knowing what to do when, leading to many people dying. So rather than continuing to teach Homer a complicated three step process, the American Heart Association has stopped emphasizing the other parts first, and is telling people to just immediately call 911, ask for a defibrillator and if none available: start compression first, and then do the other steps if you are advanced enough. Having compression, a basic procedure anyone can do easily, without the other steps is better than none at all, and will save enough lives that it warrants changing the long-standing guidelines.