Women less likely to receive lifesaving CPR as South East ambulance service launches new campaign

Women suffering a cardiac arrest are less likely to receive lifesaving CPR from bystanders than men, prompting a new campaign by South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to tackle the potentially deadly gender gap.

Research by St John Ambulance found that 23 per cent of people are less likely to perform CPR on a woman than a man, with concerns about touching a woman's chest, removing clothing or causing embarrassment among the reasons people hesitate to act.

Now SECAmb, which covers Sussex, Surrey and Kent, is launching a campaign called Bra Off, Pads On as part of Restart a Heart month this October.

The campaign aims to break down misconceptions surrounding CPR on women and encourage more people to step forward in a medical emergency, regardless of the patient's gender.

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts. For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, their chances of survival can fall by around 10 per cent.

The ambulance service wants to reinforce the message that saving a life must always come before concerns about embarrassment or physical contact.

Dr Jaqui Lindridge, Chief Paramedic Officer at SECAmb, said: “We want everyone to feel confident providing CPR to anyone who needs it. Gender should never be a barrier to someone receiving lifesaving treatment. By sharing real stories and challenging some of the myths around CPR, we hope to give people the confidence to step forward and act when it matters most.”

Throughout October, the ambulance service will share the experiences of women whose lives were saved because someone nearby knew how to perform CPR.

Among those supporting the campaign are cardiac arrest survivors Demi Buxton, Helen Warren and Sevda, who survived thanks to the actions of friends, family members and bystanders.

Demi Buxton said: “When I collapsed, CPR gave me a second chance at life. Everyone deserves that same chance, which is why it’s so important that people feel confident performing CPR on anyone who needs it.”

Their stories will be used to demonstrate the importance of acting quickly and to challenge the fears that can prevent people from helping women experiencing a cardiac arrest.

As part of the campaign, SECAmb will hold its first-ever CPRathon at Asda Chatham Superstore on Friday 16 October.

The event will run from 10am until 10pm, bringing together ambulance staff, members of the Trust's executive team, partner organisations and members of the public.

Participants will aim to keep CPR demonstrations going continuously throughout the 12-hour event.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, potentially giving them the skills and confidence to save someone's life.

The ambulance service is encouraging members of the public to get involved, with anyone interested in supporting the event asked to email cpr@secamb.nhs.uk.

SECAmb is reminding people that if someone collapses, is unresponsive and is not breathing normally, they should call 999 immediately and begin CPR.

A defibrillator should be used as soon as one becomes available, following its spoken instructions.

For women, clothing covering the chest may need to be removed or moved aside to position defibrillator pads correctly. The ambulance service stresses that concerns about modesty should never delay lifesaving treatment.

The Bra Off, Pads On campaign will continue throughout October, with advice, survivor stories and practical guidance shared across the Trust's social media channels.

More information about the campaign is available on the SECAmb website.

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