The American Heart Association has issued a strong critique of a scene in the recently released sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada," where a character collapses from sudden cardiac arrest and bystanders fail to perform effective CPR or call 9-1-1. The organization warns that such portrayals can dangerously mislead the public about life-saving techniques.
In the film, Irv Ravitz, the chairman of fictional publishing house Elias-Clark played by Tibor Feldman, collapses during a party. A guest attempts Hands-Only CPR, but the compressions are shown as unrealistic and ineffective, and no one calls emergency services. The American Heart Association, a leading authority on CPR, noted that these inaccuracies could reinforce myths that lead to hesitation in real emergencies.
“In real life, there is no room for feeling powerless when someone’s heart stops,” said Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, 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.”
Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death, and every minute without high-quality CPR reduces a person's chance of survival by up to 10%. The American Heart Association emphasizes two critical steps: call 9-1-1 immediately and push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, ideally to the beat of a song like "Runway" by Lady Gaga and Doechii, which has a tempo of 120 BPM.
A recent study found that CPR is frequently misrepresented in scripted television, including who receives it and where cardiac arrests occur. The American Heart Association, identified by the Annenberg Public Policy Center as the most trusted public health information source after personal health care providers, urges the public to learn proper techniques through its online video or by taking a course at an associated training center.
The organization's Nation of Lifesavers campaign aims to educate as many people as possible to act immediately in cardiac emergencies. As the largest non-government funder of cardiovascular research, with more than $6 billion in funding over 75 years, the American Heart Association stresses that accurate depictions in media can save lives.
“When films and television depict CPR inaccurately, it can normalize hesitation, confusion and failure in moments when precision saves lives,” the organization stated. The association encourages everyone to visit heart.org/CPR to learn the simple steps that can make the difference between life and death.
