Lost is one of the most popular TV series of all time, so you might have seen this classic moment in the show that is a dichotomy of emotional baggage and rescue as Jack makes an attempt to rescue Charlie. Jack also has a big problem with being able to let go, making this scene both emotional and powerful.

When Jack and Kate find Charlie hanging in the jungle, they cut him down and Jack goes to work checking for a pulse and listening for breathing. When he doesn’t find either, he gives two rescue breaths and proceeds to compressions. And when continuous compressions and rescue breaths don’t appear to be working, Jack gets frustrated and doesn’t give up. He balls up his fist and begins really pounding Charlie’s chest.

This scene happens in Season 1, Episode 11: All the Best Cowboys have Daddy Issues

Obviously the 2010 guidelines change the order that Jack would have done things, and he would have started with compressions first. But his arms didn’t look like they were in a straight and locked position to me. It just might have been the angle that we see it, though. We also never get a good look at the depth of his compressions. What do you think of the CPR in this scene?

Summary of Lost episode All the Best Cowboys have Daddy Issues

A search party ventures into the jungle to try to find Charlie and Claire; Jack’s inner demons resurface; Boone and Locke discover yet another island mystery.

CPR in Entertainment is a series based on rescue scenes found in both TV shows and movies.  If you have a suggestion for a future entry, please comment below!

Comments

  1. Roy

    Great Job Paul! Not only did this video clip give the staff of ProCPR.org a hearty laugh, but a chance to pick apart the poor job that TV shows do when demonstrating a potentially life saving skill such as CPR. Some of the top issues I saw included:

    Chest compressions are meant to be delivered at least 100 times per minute and at a depth of 2 inches or more. It appeared that the depth of these compressions were little more than 1 inch if that.

    Multiple precordial thumps delivered more like a UFC MMA fight than a trained practioner.(please note, this technique has not been on the ACLS or BLS list for some time now.( ask me for the history on royonrescue if you’re curious).

    As for the explosive recovery of the patient. We must first consider that after unknown amount of time passed without oxygen, the brain needs a given amount of time in order for most patients to regain any form of autonomy and consciousness. Then, if the patient is truly in full cardiac arrest, one may exhibit agonal respirations with good circulation to the brain but never have I seen someone gasp for breath as if surfacing after a free dive in the Bahamas. Maybe this is because I never give multiple thumps to the patients chest. Maybe it’s because I’m not “Lost”.

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