The Importance of Rescue Breathing

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Peter Safer was a doctor who wanted to know what could be done in the minutes before they arrive at a hospital. He tried rescue breathing, where you flip someone face down and press on their shoulders or flap their arms. But he found that this method forces oxygen out rather than bringing it in. A new study says there's no reason not to try breathing into people's mouths instead.

As recently as 1965, if you had a medical emergency, the people who showed up at your door would be volunteer firefighters, police officers, or undertakers with a hearse. Today, the story of how a group of Black men from Pittsburgh changed that.

Kevin Hazzard’s book is American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics.

Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.

Listen back through our archives at youtube.com/criminalpodcast.

We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.

Artwork by Julienne Alexander.

Episode transcripts are posted on our website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices