Dispelling CPR myths on International Women’s Day
Each year women die needlessly due to the fear of performing lifesaving CPR on them. Together we need to dispel the myths around CPR
New research* suggests that bystanders are less likely to perform CPR on women suffering cardiac arrest in public places. In the study of 39,000 cardiac arrest cases only 54% of people received CPR from bystanders – with women making up a much smaller proportion than men. This can be for several reasons – such as fear of touching a woman’s chest without consent, the stigma of using excessive force that may cause injury – or even lack of knowledge that a woman is likely to be in cardiac arrest.
