Why Are Women Less Likely to Receive CPR in Public?

When someone collapses from sudden cardiac arrest, every second counts. Without immediate CPR, the chances of survival drop by 10% every minute.

Regardless of this stat, women are less likely to receive life-saving CPR than men, especially in public settings.

Recent UK research led by St John Ambulance and supported by Resuscitation Council UK revealed:

• 68% of women who suffer cardiac arrest in public receive bystander CPR, compared to 73% of men.
• Nearly a quarter (23%) of people surveyed said they would be hesitant to give CPR to a woman in public.
• One in three men (33%) worry about being accused of inappropriate touching if they give CPR to a woman.
• Women also have a lower survival rate of hospital discharge compared to men – 12.5% vs. 20%, according to European cardiac studies.

Why The Disparity?

Fear of Inappropriate Touching and Legal Consequences

Many bystanders may fear accusations of sexual assault if they touch a woman’s chest during CPR. Even with the best intentions, this hesitation can cost precious minutes and lives

The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 (SARAH) addresses concerns about legal liability for individuals who act in good faith to help others or benefit society. It is designed to reassure people that if they take positive action to help others, the courts will consider the context of their actions if anything goes wrong.

Find out more about The Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 here.

Lack of Training in Female Anatomy

Most CPR manikins used in public and workplace training are modelled after male torsos. When trainees don’t practice compressions on anatomically accurate female manikins (i.e. those with breasts), they may freeze in real-life situations, unsure of where or how to place their hands.

Unfamiliar Symptoms in Women

Women often present slightly different signsduring cardiac arrest or heart attacks, such as nausea, back pain, fatigue, or jaw discomfort rather than the more commonly recognised chest pain. As a result, their symptoms are more likely to be misinterpreted or ignored, leading to delayed intervention.

What Needs to Change?

Unfortunately, these are more than just numbers, they reflect real-life scenarios which can be the difference between life and death. This is not an issue that will fix itself and there is a lot of action and education needed to change these figures.

CPR Training Need to Be More Inclusive

All CPR courses should include manikins with female anatomical features. The absence of breasts in most training tools leaves a knowledge and confidence gap that carries over into emergencies.

Public Education Needs a Refresh

We must actively challenge the idea that CPR should be approached differently based on gender. CPR is about saving a life. Hesitating out of discomfort could mean someone’s daughter, sister, or colleague not making it.

Normalise the Conversation

The best way to remove fear and stigma is to talk about it openly. Campaigns like St John Ambulance’s #CPRbra are helping shift mindsets by creating space for conversation and practice that includes women.

If you see someone collapse and stop breathing, regardless of their gender, call 999, start chest compressions, and ask someone to get a defibrillator. The best thing you can do is act. It’s time to ensure everyone receives equal care in a cardiac emergency. Saving a life should never be a gendered decision.

Sources:

St John Ambulance – CPRbra Campaign
https://www.sja.org.uk/press-centre/press-releases/St-John-launches-CPRbra-campaign-to-tackle-gender-disparity-in-cpr/

The Guardian – UK Women Less Likely to Get CPR
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/16/uk-women-who-suffer-cardiac-arrest-in-public-less-likely-to-get-cpr-study-finds

European Heart Journal – Sex Differences in Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/40/47/3824/5610350

British Heart Foundation – Heart Attack Symptoms in Women
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/women-and-heart-attacks

Resuscitation Council UK – CPR Guidance & Training Tools
https://www.resus.org.uk/public-resource/cpr-right-now