Cardiac arrest in space: New research shows that automatic chest compressions are more effective for CPR when both rescuer and patient are floating in microgravity
Reports and Proceedings
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Sep-2025 06:11 ET (3-Sep-2025 10:11 GMT/UTC)
New research has found that a type of automatic chest compression is more effective to carry out CPR in space than the ‘handstand method’ that is currently recommended in emergency protocols for spaceflight. Treating cardiac arrest during spaceflight is challenging because both the rescuer and the patient are floating due to microgravity, which makes doing chest compressions challenging.
The research was conducted in a ‘flying laboratory’ in a modified A310 aircraft at the CNES (French space agency). Freefalling phases of parabolic flight were used to accurately recreate microgravity so CPR could be tested by researchers on a floating mannikin.
The researchers say they hope their findings will influence future guidelines (1) about CPR in space. They suggest that space agencies will need to balance risks from cardiac arrest against space and weight constraints when deciding whether to include automatic chest compression devices on future spaceflights.
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