The Female Lead

Women More Likely to Die From Cardiac Arrest because of Their Bras

Research by Thames Valley Air Ambulance and St John Ambulance shows that one in three women in the UK who suffer out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest receive no CPR before emergency crews arrive. About 33% of men report hesitancy to perform chest compressions on women due to fear of touching breasts, and many bystanders also avoid removing a bra before applying a defibrillator. Historically, CPR training used only male manikins, but charities now employ female‑form manikins and teach proper bra‑cutting techniques to improve survival odds, which can rise up to 70% when defibrillation occurs within three minutes.