Are Heimlich maneuver videos on YouTube accurate and reliable?

Introductıon. First aid for airway obstruction is a life-saving maneuver that can be implemented by anyone. In this study, we determined the accuracy of Heimlich maneuver videos posted on the Internet.

Materials and methods. Heimlich maneuver videos uploaded on to YouTube were evaluated. We recorded by whom the video was uploaded, upload time, the number of viewers, and to whom it was intended. Scores from 0 to 7 were used to evaluate video suitability. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 for Windows software. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to indicate significance.

Results. A total of 640 videos were evaluated; 466 (72.8%) videos were excluded because their content was primarily for entertainment purposes. In total, 174 videos met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to analysis. Of the 174 videos analyzed, 54(31%) were uploaded anonymously, the mean number of viewers was 26,814 ± 4,860, and the median video duration was 4.19 min (range, 0.06–114 min). The mean video score was 2.7 ± 1.6. Using this value as a cut-off, a significant relationship between reliability and uploading institution was detected (p≤ 0.05), but not between the number of views and reliability (p = 0.428).

Conclusion. Our results suggest that Heimlich maneuver videos uploaded to YouTube were not particularly educational because only 13% of the videos received an above-average score.

airway obstruction, first aid, YouTube video

1. Tan H, Brown K, McGill T, Kenna MA, Lund DP, Healy GB. Airway foreign bodies (FB): a 10-year review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2000;56(2):91-9.

2. Manno M. Pediatric respiratory emergencies: Upper airway obstruction and infections. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al,

editors. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Elsevier Mosby. 2009. Chap. 166.

3. International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Part 2: Adult basic life support. Resuscitation 2005;67(2-3):187—201.

4. Yaylacı S, Serinken M, Eken C, Karcioglu O, Yilmaz A, Elicabuk H, et al. Are YouTube videos accurate and reliable on basic life support and cardio pulmonary resuscitation? Emerg Med Australas 2014;26(5):474–7.

5. Duncan I, Yarwood-Ross L, Haigh C. YouTube as a source of clinical skills education. Nurse Educ. Today 2013;33(12):1576–80.

6. Murugiah K, Vallakati A, Rajput K, Sood A, Challa NR. YouTube as a source of information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation 2011;82(3):332–4.

7. Bezner SK, Hodgman EI, Diesen DL,Clayton JT, Minkes RK, Langer JC, et al. Pediatric Surgery on YouTubeTM: is the truth out there. J pediatr surg 2014;49(4):586-9.