One in three afraid to give CPR to a woman in public

St John Ambulance has today released alarming new research that shows that a third of Brits* are afraid to give CPR to a woman because they are worried about touching breasts. And the same proportion, a third of men (33%) say they are concerned they will be accused of ‘inappropriate’ touching when giving chest compressions to a woman in cardiac arrest in public - versus 13% of women.

To raise awareness of the issue facing women, St John Ambulance has launched a campaign that sees Chelsea FC Women’s Captain, Millie Bright, broadcaster and DJ, Ashley James, a social content creator and disability campaigner, Lucy Edwards, and activist, Sharon Gaffka, join forces to introduce the world’s first educational bra, The CPR Bra. The bra has been created to reassure people that taking fast action is the right thing to do to save a life regardless of gender. It features the message ‘It’s OK to Save My Life’ on the front, along with a reminder of the steps needed to respond to a cardiac arrest.

A defibrillator can make a critical difference, as when used within the first three minutes it can increase the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 70%. The defibrillator has pads that need to be placed on bare skin on the chest area. On hearing this information, 38% of people agreed that their levels of discomfort would rise. Nearly half of the male respondents (46%) stated they feel less comfortable using a defibrillator on a woman knowing that they might have to remove her clothing, including a bra, versus 31% of females surveyed.

Millie Bright comments, “I’ve had the experience of being on the pitch when someone suffered a suspected cardiac arrest, and it was terrifying. It’s so important that we all take the time to learn how to save a life, as we never know when we might need the help of strangers. To learn that as a woman I am more at risk because people are uncomfortable to provide help due to my gender is shocking.”

The research confirms that training can make a huge difference when it comes to addressing the gender disparity, with 64% of all respondents agreeing that their comfort levels would increase if offered the right support and training. During Restart a Heart Day- when St John Ambulance and other health partners come together to teach CPR – St John will be focusing on ensuring that the public understands how to give vital first aid to a woman in cardiac arrest and address any concerns with doing so. With nearly a quarter (23%) of people surveyed agreeing that they are less likely to give CPR to a woman in public than a man, the campaign is a critical move in changing perceptions.

Jordan Davison, community experience manager, at St John Ambulance comments, “Whilst this latest research flags some concerning issues around people’s comfort levels in performing CPR on women, it isn’t wholly surprising. These concerns are frequently raised in our training sessions.

Jordan continues, “Our message to people is that it is always better to do something than nothing in these circumstances. Regardless of gender, when it comes to CPR, every ‘body’ is the same, the technique is the same and everyone deserves the best possible chance of survival. By supporting this campaign, signing up to a free first aid public demonstration, visiting our website for first aid advice or attending a training course - let’s bust this taboo together and close this unnecessary gender gap for good.”

*32.8% of respondents answered either ‘Worried I'd get accused of inappropriate touching’ or ‘Accidentally touching them inappropriately in their chest or breast area’ if they had to give CPR to a female stranger in public.

Research conducted by Censuswide on 1,000 UK respondents (50% male, 50% female) in April 2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.