Women who go into cardiac arrest in public are less likely than men to receive chest compressions from bystanders as people “worry about touching their breasts”, according to a study.
The research by St John Ambulance said nearly a quarter of the 1,000 Britons surveyed admitted they were less likely to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a woman in public, with a third of men worrying they would be accused of “inappropriate” touching when giving CPR to a woman compared with 13% of females.
The survey suggests the “taboo” surrounding women’s chests creates an “alarming gender disparity” in access to emergency medical care as only 68% of women are likely to receive CPR from bystanders compared with 73% of men.
Previous research has shown that more than 8,200 women in England and Wales could have survived a heart attack if they had been given the same treatment as men, according to an analysis of data from between 2003 and 2013.
Jordan Davison, a community experience manager at St John Ambulance, which teaches first aid and emergency medical services, 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.”
According to the British Heart Foundation, more than 30,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK each year, and less than one in 10 survive.
But performing CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double a person’s chances of survival.
The survey also found that 38% of Britons say they would feel uncomfortable using a defibrillator on a woman as its pads need to be placed on bare skin in the chest area.
Nearly half of the male respondents stated they would feel less comfortable using a defibrillator on a woman knowing that they might have to remove her clothing, including a bra compared with 31% of females surveyed.
The report suggests appropriate training could address the problem, with 64% of all respondents indicating that they would feel more comfortable performing CPR if they received the right education and support.
Chelsea FC women’s captain Millie Bright, who supports St John Ambulance’s campaign to close the gender gap, said: “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.”