Home / Health / Cardiac Arrest: Bra Removal Crucial for Survival
Cardiac Arrest: Bra Removal Crucial for Survival
6 Feb
Summary
- Women are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR.
- Removing bras improves defibrillator effectiveness.
- Every minute without CPR reduces survival by 10%.
A vital campaign to address gender inequality in life-saving cardiac arrest treatment has received backing from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb). The 'Bra Off, Defib On' initiative promotes the removal of women's bras before using a defibrillator.
SECAmb emphasizes that delaying defibrillation can be fatal. According to the service, survival chances decrease by about 10% for every minute without immediate CPR and defibrillation. This intervention is crucial, as out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the UK, with survival rates around only 10%.
Furthermore, data indicates a significant gender disparity in bystander intervention. Women are approximately 27% less likely to receive CPR from bystanders compared to men. This disparity underscores the importance of the campaign in potentially improving outcomes for women experiencing cardiac arrest.
