The American Heart Association is speaking out against a dramatic scene in the recently released sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada," warning that its inaccurate portrayal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could have deadly consequences in real life. In the film, a party guest attempts Hands-Only CPR after fictional publishing chairman Irv Ravitz collapses, but no one calls 9-1-1 and the chest compressions shown are unrealistic and ineffective. The Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, stresses that such misrepresentations can normalize hesitation and confusion during actual emergencies.
"In real life, there is no room for feeling powerless when someone's heart stops," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. "Hands-only CPR is simple, effective and something anyone can do. You don't need medical training, perfection or permission - just the willingness to act immediately." According to the Association, every minute without high-quality CPR reduces a person's chance of survival. The organization's Nation of Lifesavers™ campaign aims to educate the public and encourage immediate action.
CPR is frequently misrepresented in scripted television, as a recent study found, including who receives it and where cardiac arrests occur. The American Heart Association emphasizes two critical steps in a cardiac emergency: call 911 immediately, then perform Hands-Only CPR by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of a song with 100-120 beats per minute. The song "RUNWAY" by Lady Gaga and Doechii, featured in the film, is cited as perfect for maintaining the correct rhythm.
The Association notes that when films depict CPR inaccurately, they reinforce dangerous myths—from stopping too soon to performing compressions incorrectly—that can make bystanders hesitate. Learning Hands-Only CPR is easy and can be done quickly via a simple video on the American Heart Association's website or by taking a course at an affiliated training center.
The American Heart Association is the largest non-government funder of cardiovascular-related scientific research globally, with over $6 billion in funding distributed over the past 75 years. It was recently identified by the Annenberg Public Policy Center as the most trusted public health information source after an individual's personal health care provider, with more than 8 in 10 U.S. adults (82%) expressing confidence in the Association to provide trustworthy public health information.
