We have released new figures which show women are less likely than men to receive bystander CPR, with one in three female cardiac arrest patients getting no CPR until crews arrive on scene.
We released the data ahead of International Women’s Day, to urge more people to step forward if they witness a woman in cardiac arrest. The call is being backed by cardiac arrest survivor Catherine McReynolds, who received bystander CPR at the roadside in Bracknell last year and Kayleigh Rockell, who stepped in to save her life.
Catherine said: “If Kayleigh and the other bystanders hadn’t stopped to help me, I would not be here today. Thanks to them, the Thames Valley Air Ambulance crew were able to give me the best chance of survival.”
Kayleigh, who received CPR training at work just weeks before the incident, said: “A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I hadn’t helped Catherine. If something doesn’t look right, use your initiative and help. You could save someone’s life.”
Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s call to boost CPR rates for women is being supported by the charity’s Royal Patron, The Duchess of Edinburgh. Earlier this year, The Duchess got involved with a CPR session at the charity’s headquarters and heard about the disparity in CPR rates between men and women.
Amanda McLean, our Chief Executive, said:
“Our critical care paramedic and doctor crews attend more than three cardiac arrests every day across the region. Early CPR gives us the best possible chance of saving a life. But we know confidence rates to step in and perform CPR are low and, sadly, they appear to be even lower for women in cardiac arrest.
“Notions of modesty should never get in the way of saving a life. That’s why we include manikins with breasts in our CPR awareness sessions, and we show people how to cut through a bra before applying defibrillator pads.”
