UK women who suffer cardiac arrest in public less likely to get CPR, survey finds

A third of men worry they would be accused of 'inappropriate' touching when giving CPR to a woman, versus 13% of women, a survey has revealed

Women who suffer cardiac arrests in public are less likely to receive chest compressions from bystanders as people "worry about touching their breasts", according to new research.

The survey, which involved 1,000 British people, found that nearly a quarter were less likely to perform CPR on a woman in public. A third of men (33%) expressed concerns about being accused of "inappropriate" touching when administering CPR to a woman, compared to 13% of women.

This "taboo" surrounding women’s chests creates an "alarming gender disparity" in access to emergency medical care, with only 68% of women likely to receive CPR from bystanders compared to 73% of men. The study, commissioned by St John Ambulance, suggests that over 8,200 women in England and Wales could have survived their heart attacks if they had received the same treatment as men.

In response, St John Ambulance, a provider of first aid and emergency medical services, has launched a campaign to "reassure people that taking action, fast, is the right thing to do" and to "close this unnecessary gender gap for good". Jordan Davison, a community experience manager at St John Ambulance, said: "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." The British Heart Foundation reveals that over 30,000 people in the UK suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, with less than one in 10 surviving.

However, CPR and defibrillator use can more than double a person's survival chances. Yet, 38% of Britons say they would feel uncomfortable using the defibrillator on a woman as its pads need to be placed on bare skin in the chest area.

Nearly half of the men surveyed (46%) expressing unease at the thought of potentially having to remove a woman's clothing, such as a bra, in contrast to the 31% of women feeling the same uneasiness.

Chelsea FC Women’s Captain Millie Bright, who backs the campaign, witnessed the horror of a suspected cardiac arrest on the field. "I’ve had the experience of being on the pitch when someone suffered a suspected cardiac arrest, and it was terrifying."

She added: "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 report suggests 64% of respondents would be more assured in performing CPR with proper education and support. Mr Davison commented: "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."