A widely misunderstood and often harmful first-aid response, i.e., trying to prevent “tongue swallowing” during cardiac arrest, continues to dominate bystander reactions in athletic events, a new study has revealed. Researchers warn that such misguided interventions not only delay proper care but may worsen survival outcomes. The analysis was published in Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

To investigate the prevalence and consequences of such responses, researchers reviewed 45 documented cases between 1990 and 2024 where athletes collapsed during competition and their resuscitation efforts were captured on video or described in the media. In 32 of these 38 visible-response cases (84%), the first action by bystanders was inappropriate. The bystanders attempted to prevent tongue swallowing before any cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated.

Among the 27 victims who underwent tongue-swallowing prevention maneuvers before receiving CPR, 18 (67%) died or suffered severe anoxic brain injury. In contrast, none of the three athletes who received immediate CPR experienced those poor outcomes—a statistically significant difference (P = 0.045).

Media reporting further drives the problem. Of the 28 cases that appeared in 84 news articles, the term "tongue swallowing" was mentioned in 40 stories. In nearly all cases, these attempts were praised, with reporters often crediting quick "tongue rescue" as lifesaving, despite evidence to the contrary.