St John Ambulance has today released alarming new research that shows that a third of Brits are afraid to give CPR to a woman because they are worried about touching breasts. And the same proportion, a third of men (33%) say they are concerned they will be accused of ‘inappropriate’ touching when giving chest compressions to a woman in cardiac arrest in public – versus 13% of women.
To raise awareness of the issue facing women, St John Ambulance has launched a campaign that sees Chelsea FC Women’s Captain, Millie Bright, broadcaster and DJ, Ashley James, a social content creator and disability campaigner, Lucy Edwards, and activist, Sharon Gaffka, join forces to introduce the world’s first educational bra, The CPR Bra. The bra has been created by St John Ambulance to remind people of the steps they need to take when dealing with a cardiac emergency and includes the message ‘It’s OK to Save My Life’ to reassure people that taking action, fast, is the right thing to do.
A defibrillator can make a critical difference, as when used within the first three minutes it can increase the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 70%. The defibrillator has pads that need to be placed on bare skin on the chest area. On hearing this information, 38% of people agreed that their levels of discomfort would rise. Nearly half of the male respondents (46%) stated they feel less comfortable using a defibrillator on a woman knowing that they might have to remove her clothing, including a bra, versus 31% of females surveyed.
Millie Bright comments, “I’ve had the experience of being on the pitch when someone suffered a suspected cardiac arrest, and it was terrifying. It’s so important that we all take the time to learn how to save a life, as we never know when we might need the help of strangers. To learn that as a woman I am more at risk because people are uncomfortable to provide help due to my gender is shocking.”
The research confirms that training can make a huge difference when it comes to addressing the gender disparity, with 64% of all respondents agreeing that their comfort levels would increase if offered the right support and training. During Restart a Heart Day– when St John Ambulance and other health partners come together to teach CPR – St John will be focusing on ensuring that the public understands how to give vital first aid to a woman in cardiac arrest and address any concerns with doing so. With nearly a quarter (23%) of people surveyed agreeing that they are less likely to give CPR to a woman in public than a man, the campaign is a critical move in changing perceptions. ~
Jordan Davison, community experience manager, at St John Ambulance comments, “Whilst this latest research flags some concerning issues around people’s comfort levels in performing CPR on women, it isn’t wholly surprising. These concerns are frequently raised in our training sessions.
Jordan continues, “Our message to people is that it is always better to do something than nothing in these circumstances. Regardless of gender, when it comes to CPR, every ‘body’ is the same, the technique is the same and everyone deserves the best possible chance of survival. By supporting this campaign, signing up to a free first aid public demonstration, visiting our website for first aid advice or attending a training course – let’s bust this taboo together and close this unnecessary gender gap for good.”
Research conducted by Censuswide on 1,000 UK respondents (50% male, 50% female) in April 2024.Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
External research
Gender gap
2019 British Heart Foundation shared research showing:
- More than 8,200 women in England and Wales could have survived their heart attacks had they been given the same treatment as men (University of Leeds)
- Only 68% of women are likely to receive bystander CPR compared to 73% of men and survival from the time of the cardiac arrest to hospital admission was 34% for women compared to 37% for men (University of Amsterdam)
Research by the Montreal Heart Institute published 2023 found:
- Women are less likely to be given CPR than men in public places. The research into 39,000 out of hospital cardiac arrest patients in Canada and the US between 2005 and 2015 found for those that happened in a public place, 61% of women compared to 68% of men were given bystander CPR.
CPR research
- Giving CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someone’s chance of survival. (British Heart Foundation)
- Each year over 30,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, with less than one in 10 surviving (British Heart Foundation)
- When used within the first three minutes of a patient going into cardiac arrest, a defibrillator can increase the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 70% (Resuscitation Council UK/BHF)
About Restart a Heart
Restart a Heart (RSAH) is an annual initiative which aims to increase the number of people surviving out of hospital cardiac arrests. Its partners include St John Ambulance, The Resuscitation Council UK as well as other health organisations. In 2018, the initiative went global with the formation of World Restart a Heart (WRSAH). Every October, an alliance of partners all over the world come together to increase public awareness of cardiac arrests and increase the number of people trained in life saving CPR and defibrillation awareness. They do this by organising and facilitating training events and by providing opportunities for people to learn CPR digitally in the safety and comfort of their own home.
About St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance is England’s leading first aid charity. Our vision is a world where everyone receives the help they need in a health crisis from those around them. We are the charity that steps forward in the moments that matter. To save lives, keep communities safe and empower people with life-saving skills. We are the market leader in the provision of workplace first aid training, supplies and event and ambulance services. Visit
www.sja.org.uk
