If someone needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and you had the skills, you’d give it to them without wasting a second, right?
Wrong. Almost a third of men say they would hesitate to perform CPR on a woman for fear of being accused of inappropriate touching. A similar number also worry about accidentally hurting women, and almost a quarter are concerned they could make the situation worse.
So, to remind everyone that it’s ok to touch someone’s chest when you’re trying to save their life, we’re raising awareness with St John Ambulance.
Reservations could cost lives
These insights came from a survey of 2,000 people, commissioned by the charity. It marks this year’s Restart a Heart Day, when it teaches vital CPR skills alongside other health partners.
The findings show that Millennials are most likely to fear being scrutinised on social media, with more than one in four worried about how they might appear online. Gen Zs (aged 18 to 28), follow with roughly one in six, and Gen X (aged 45 to 60) are at one in five. Perhaps unsurprisingly, fewer Baby Boomers (aged 61 to 79) share the same fear, at one in ten.
These reservations mean that in some cases, potentially lifesaving interventions are not taking place when needed.
Can we close the gap?
Nearly seven in ten men said they’d feel more confident performing CPR on a woman in public if they received more training. Six in ten said they were more likely to give CPR having seen or been made aware of the CPR Bra campaign.
A new ‘CPR Bra’ has been released this year to help reassure people that taking fast action is the right thing to do to save a life, regardless of gender. The bra features the message ‘It’s OK to Save My Life’ on the front, along with scissor icons to illustrate where clothing should be cut to apply defibrillator pads. There’s also a reminder of the steps needed to respond to a cardiac arrest.
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Check for breathing.
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Call 999.
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Give chest compressions.
St John Ambulance’s medical director, Dr Lynn Thomas says that hesitation is costing lives.
“Every second counts in a cardiac arrest, and doing something is always better than doing nothing,” she explains. “It’s important we don’t shame anyone for hesitating as these fears are real and understandable, but no-one should ever feel afraid to try to save a life.
“Education is key to building confidence. The CPR Bra is our way of putting the power of first aid into more people’s hands and we hope to inspire more people to take action and give CPR to any person in need, whatever their gender.”
How heart failure affects women
There are more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in the UK each year and the estimated survival rate is less than one in ten. 40% are in people aged 15 to 64, and around a third are women. The number is highest in women aged 55 to 59.
Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival, but every minute without them can reduce the likelihood of survival by up to 10%.
Heart failure (HF) risk factors for women include:
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Pregnancy‑related factors-the older a woman is when she first gives birth, and the number of births, can increase the risks. This is thought to relate to long‑term cardiovascular changes, metabolic strain, and pregnancy‑related complications such as gestational hypertension, and pre‑eclampsia.
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Early menopause, either natural or surgical– this is because loss of oestrogen accelerates vascular ageing, increasing blood pressure, worsening lipid profiles, and raising inflammation.
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Menopause ‘masking’ early HF symptoms and delaying diagnosis– symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, and sleep disturbance overlap with menopausal complaints, which can complicate early detection.
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Post-menopause-this is due to a range of issues, including the impact of hormonal decline, and changes to metabolism.
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Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions – these disproportionately affect women and include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which increase HF risk through sustained inflammation and vascular damage.
Social factors such as deprivation, obesity due to poor diet, and higher rates of depression are also classed as “under‑recognised” risks, but are still relevant, according to research.
Celebrity support
Hollyoaks and Coronation Street actor Nikki Sanderson, who is supporting the campaign, knows first-hand how critical CPR can be.
“It’s horrifying that so many people say they are less likely to help a woman in public,” she says. “Especially because they’re afraid about people filming and sharing it online. That woman could be someone’s mum, sister, or daughter.
“In 2021 my mum had a cardiac arrest, and we had to perform CPR until paramedics arrived. If we’d hesitated, she wouldn’t be here today. We need to remove these barriers and ‘bust the taboo’ because everyone deserves the same chance of survival.”
Things to remember
In a cardiac arrest emergency, every second counts, so taking fast action is the right thing to do to save a life, regardless of gender.
Through Restart a Heart Day, St John Ambulance is calling on everyone to learn CPR and spread the word that it’s ok to touch part of someone’s chest to give CPR when they’re in cardiac arrest. This includes cutting their bra or binding off to use a defibrillator.
It’s also a great opportunity to remind everyone to consider how best to take care of your heart to ensure you stay healthy for years to come.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Article also available inEnglish,German,Spanish,French,Italian,Portuguese,Hindi,Hebrew,Arabic, andSwedish.
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Next review due: 21 Oct 2029
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21 Oct 2026 | Originally published
Claire Kenny
Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the community do not represent medical advice. For any health concerns, consult your GP or healthcare provider.
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