Nurses give a CPR demonstration with intervention cardiologist Willem Ruifrok. Photo: Boudewijn Benting
“This is Mr. Witjes, he is not doing very well,” says a nurse, pointing to a plastic hull. “Mr. Witjes must be resuscitated.” Her colleague starts routinely giving the dummy in the hospital bed a heart massage. Thirty times she pushes her hands on the pale plastic, keeping count aloud. On the doll’s chest are two large white stickers that are connected to a defibrillator with cables. “Hands off the bed!” the nurse yells, pressing a red button to shock the doll. Nothing happens. “In the film they shoot up, don’t they?”, a visitor remarks somewhat disappointed.