Considering human cognitive architecture in stressful medical prehospital interventions might benefit care providers.

"Competing interests: A.W. Kirkpatrick has consulted for Zoll, Acelity (3M/KCI), CSL Behring, Innovative Trauma Care and SAM Medical Corporations, and the Statesman Group of Companies, and is the principal investigator of a randomized trial partially supported by Acelity Corporation. He has previously disclosed a personal relationship with J.L. McKee. JL McKee has consulted for Innovative Trauma Care, SAM Medical, Aceso, Acelity (3M/KCI), Zoll Medical and the Andrew W. Kirkpatrick Professional Corp. She has previously disclosed a personal relationship with A.W. Kirkpatrick. K. Couperus is the chief medical officer of Exonicus Inc., a virtual medical simulation training company focused on training individuals on the management of patients with traumatic injuries. No other competing interests were declared."

"Competing interests: A.W. Kirkpatrick has consulted for Zoll, Acelity (3M/KCI), CSL Behring, Innovative Trauma Care and SAM Medical Corporations, and the Statesman Group of Companies, and is the principal investigator of a randomized trial partially supported by Acelity Corporation. He has previously disclosed a personal relationship with J.L. McKee. JL McKee has consulted for Innovative Trauma Care, SAM Medical, Aceso, Acelity (3M/KCI), Zoll Medical and the Andrew W. Kirkpatrick Professional Corp. She has previously disclosed a personal relationship with A.W. Kirkpatrick. K. Couperus is the chief medical officer of Exonicus Inc., a virtual medical simulation training company focused on training individuals on the management of patients with traumatic injuries. No other competing interests were declared."