Two large studies recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine say compression-only CPR is as effective as the traditional method using both compression and breaths. The study authors say bystanders who want to help cardiac arrest victims should be encouraged to use continuous chest compressions and not stop to administer breaths.

The findings are a boost for healthcare professionals who believe many people are put off by the thought of administering mouth-to-mouth to strangers. Encouraging compression-only CPR makes people more likely to attempt it in an emergency situation.

Not only is compression-only CPR more palatable, the studies indicate it could actually be more effective. People were more likely to survive and less likely to have brain damage with compression-only resuscitation.

Further studies will be done to evaluate all methods of resuscitation. Meanwhile, the Red Cross issued a statement saying it believes traditional CPR to be better, but that compression-only is an acceptable alternative.

Source: CNN