According to a 2024 study published in the Resuscitation Journal, women in public settings were 42% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR. And from a 2018 study published in Circulation, a Journal of the American Heart Association, women were 27% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR in public settings.

Research suggests that part of the problem is recognition: dispatchers are less likely to identify cardiac arrest in women, delaying CPR instructions. Hesitation also plays a part. Bystanders may fear “inappropriate touching” because of the sexualization of women’s bodies or worry about causing injury.

It is super important that CPR training includes female-anatomy manikins. By normalizing lifesaving care for both men and women, we can reduce hesitation, improve outcomes, and help ensure women receive the same chance of survival as men.