London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Bystanders are less likely to provide chest compressions to women who suffer a cardiac arrest in public.
The study by St John Ambulance disclosed that nearly a quarter of the 1,000 Britons surveyed confessed they were less likely to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a female in public, with a third of men fearing they would be blamed for “inappropriate” handling when giving CPR to a female compared with 13% of females.
What factors contribute to gender disparity in emergency aid?
The survey indicates the “taboo” surrounding women’s chests makes an “alarming gender disparity” in access to emergency medical consideration as only 68% of women are likely to acquire CPR from bystanders compared with 73% of males.
What are the statistics on women’s survival rates post-arrest?
Previous research has revealed that more than 8,200 women in England and Wales could have endured a heart attack if they had been offered the same treatment as men, according to an examination of data from between 2003 and 2013.
Why do men feel uncomfortable using defibrillators on women?
The survey also discovered that 38% of Britons state they would feel uncomfortable employing a defibrillator on a woman as its pads need to be put on bare skin in the chest parts. About half of the male respondents said they would feel less comfortable operating a defibrillator on a woman understanding that they might have to pull her clothing, including a bra compared with 31% of women surveyed.
Jordan Davison, a community experience director at St John Ambulance, which instructs first aid and emergency medical services, stated: “Our message to people is that it is always more useful to do something than nothing in these cases. Regardless of gender, when it comes to CPR, every ‘body’ is the same, the technique is exact, and everyone merits the best possible chance of survival.”
How can training improve CPR response for all genders?
The report offers relevant training that could handle the problem, with 64% of all respondents revealing that they would feel more relaxed conducting CPR if they received the right education and permission. According to the British Heart Foundation, around 30,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK each year, and less than one in 10 endure. However, conducting CPR and utilising a defibrillator can enhance a person’s probability of survival.