Hi group! Long time reader, first time poster. I'm an EMT-Basic, and work for a large water park.
The other day I was helping with our weekly inservice training for our lifeguards (we were reviewing CPR, AED, oxygen, and basic first aid). For CPR, I had everybody grab a partner (one guard was the patient, the other was the rescuer). I shouted out the scenario and had the rescuers count and verbalize their steps in unison with the other groups.
When they were doing their compressions, I noticed everybody was going a little slow (about one compression / second). I informed them of the proper pace (100 / minute), and told them about "Staying Alive". One guard asked me, "Why?" I informed him that the pace was necessary to keep the blood pumping at a decent pace. He then asked who researched what the most effective pacing was, to which I replied, "I think the AHA, but I'm not sure."
That got me thinking: Are their any academic papers on why CPR procedures are the way they are? I understand the basic reasons behind most of them, but I think it'd be neat to read some of the research that went into the development of the policies. Like, what research went into the "compressions first" change that happened last year?
If anyone could direct me to some official looking research on the subject, I'd much appreciate it.