Good news for anyone who still owns flannel and hasn’t forgiven the world since the ’90s — the American Heart Association has officially endorsed a grunge classic as the ideal soundtrack for saving a life.
According to the AHA, Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” clocks in at 105 beats per minute, putting it squarely in the sweet spot for hands-only CPR. That’s right: Eddie Vedder’s famously mumbled anthem now doubles as a medical timing device.
In a recent social media post, the organization encouraged would-be lifesavers to “break out the flannel shirts and ripped jeans” and get familiar with CPR by pushing hard and fast to the beat of “Even Flow.” If a teen or adult collapses, the instructions are simple: call 911, place your hands in the center of the chest, and let Pearl Jam guide you. Mouth-to-mouth not required — just solid compressions and good rhythm.
The AHA recommends chest compressions at 100–120 beats per minute, which explains why so many rock songs have accidentally been training us for emergencies all along.
Other Songs That Can Keep the Beat (and Someone Alive)
“Even Flow” isn’t alone in its life-saving potential. The AHA also gives a nod to:
Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”
Nine Inch Nails’ “As Alive As You Need Me to Be”
Nirvana’s “Come As You Are”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Turns out the ’90s weren’t just about angst — they were about cardiovascular preparedness.
CPR: No Certification, No Excuses
While CPR certification is encouraged, it’s not legally required to help in an emergency. The AHA notes that immediate CPR can double or even triple someone’s chances of surviving cardiac arrest outside a hospital.
The steps are straightforward: call 911, start chest compressions, and keep oxygen moving through the body until professionals arrive. Simple actions, serious impact.
With roughly 350,000 cardiac arrest deaths occurring in the U.S. each year, knowing the rhythm can make all the difference. So if you ever find yourself in a crisis, just remember — push hard, push fast, and let “Even Flow” do what it’s apparently always been destined to do.
