Why Women Are Less Likely to Receive CPR and How We Can Change That

Author: Marcy Burnham, RN

When someone collapses due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), every second is crucial. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can double or even triple the chance of survival in these moments. Despite this, research shows a concerning trend: women are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men. This disparity in treatment can have life-or-death consequences.

Understanding why women are less likely to receive CPR in an emergency and what we can do to change it is critical to closing this life-threatening gender gap.

The CPR Gender Gap: What the Research Says
A growing body of research highlights the gender disparity when it comes to CPR. One study presented at the American Heart Association conference found that only 39% of women who experienced cardiac arrest in public received bystander CPR, compared to 45% of men. This may not seem like a large difference, but the consequences are stark: men are 23% more likely to survive cardiac arrest when it occurs in public than women.

Several factors contribute to this disparity, ranging from social fears to misconceptions about how cardiac arrest presents itself in women. These factors create unnecessary barriers that prevent bystanders from stepping in when women need it most.

Several key reasons explain why bystanders may hesitate to perform CPR on women: fear of inappropriate contact, misconceptions about women and heart attacks, underrepresentation in CPR training, and clothing barriers. The good news is that we can address these barriers with education, awareness, and updated training. Here’s how we can start to close the CPR gender gap and ensure that women receive life-saving assistance when they need it:

1. Education and Awareness Campaigns
Raising awareness about the importance of CPR for everyone, regardless of gender, is essential. Public health campaigns need to emphasize that cardiac arrest is not a gendered issue, and women are just as likely to need CPR as men. These campaigns should also educate people about the differences in how heart attacks and cardiac arrest may present in women to help bystanders recognize an emergency quickly.

2. Normalize Performing CPR on Women
We need to address the fear of inappropriate contact head-on by normalizing the idea that performing CPR is a life-saving act. Bystanders should be reminded that in an emergency, the primary focus should be on saving a life, not worrying about appearances or social norms. Good Samaritan laws, which protect individuals who offer assistance in an emergency, should be more widely publicized to alleviate fears of legal repercussions.

3. CPR Training on Diverse Manikins
CPR courses should update their training tools to include female and more diverse body types. Incorporating female manikins can help participants feel more comfortable administering CPR on women. This adjustment will ensure that responders are familiar with both male and female anatomy and are less likely to hesitate when performing CPR in real situations.

4. Address Clothing Concerns in Training
CPR instructors should specifically address how to handle clothing concerns during CPR, particularly with bras and restrictive clothing. In an emergency, bystanders need to know how to act swiftly and efficiently, without being held back by uncertainty. Teaching people how to perform chest compressions effectively without worrying about clothing will improve confidence.

5. Encourage Women to Learn CPR
Encouraging more women to learn CPR can help create a chain reaction. Women who are trained in CPR may feel more comfortable stepping in to assist another woman in an emergency. In addition, increasing the number of trained female responders helps create a culture where providing aid is normalized across gender lines.

6. Focus on the Humanity of Saving a Life
In the heat of an emergency, it’s easy to become fixated on fears of doing the “wrong” thing. We need to remind ourselves and others that when someone is in cardiac arrest, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Bystanders need to understand that without CPR, the chances of survival drop dramatically with every minute. The fear of touching someone should never outweigh the potential to save their life.

The CPR gender gap is a solvable problem, but it requires a shift in mindset and training. Women are just as likely as men to need life-saving CPR, and bystanders need to feel empowered to take action without hesitation. By increasing education, improving CPR training, and spreading awareness, we can ensure that every person, regardless of gender, receives the help they need in an emergency. When it comes to saving a life, everyone deserves an equal chance.

Let’s close the gap, break down barriers, and make sure that no woman is left without the care she needs. Learn CPR today, and you could be the difference between life and death for someone tomorrow.