09/03/2025
Research shows women are less likely to survive cardiac arrest partly because CPR training rarely accounts for female anatomy. A Duke study across 47 U.S. states found women were 14% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR. In the U.K., only 68% of women got CPR versus 73% of men, with many citing discomfort touching a woman’s chest (The Guardian, 2024). A review in PMC confirmed women face lower out-of-hospital survival rates, and a global survey found 95% of CPR manikins are flat-chested, with only one model featuring breasts. This bias fuels hesitancy, but solutions exist: JEMS reported trainees using silicone breast adjuncts were nearly twice as comfortable performing CPR on women. Experts argue breast-inclusive manikins improve preparedness and could save lives.