A huge design flaw in CPR dummies could have deadly consequences: ScienceAlert

If someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, that might be it minutes to live. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can increase their chances of survival. CPR keeps the blood pumping and supplies the brain and vital organs with oxygen until specialist treatment arrives.

But research shows that bystanders are less likely to step in to perform CPR if that person is a woman. A recent Australian study analyzed 4,491 cardiac arrests between 2017 and 2019 and found that bystanders were more likely to perform CPR on men (74%) than women (65%).

Could this be partly because CPR training dummies (also called training dummies) do not have breasts? Us new research looked at training manikins available worldwide to train people to perform CPR and discovered that 95% are flat-chested.

Anatomically speaking, breasts do not change resuscitation technique. But they can influence whether people try – and hesitation at these crucial moments can mean the difference between life and death.

Differences in heart health

Cardiovascular diseases – including heart disease, stroke and cardiac arrest – are the most common main cause of death for women all over the world.

But if a woman has a cardiac arrest outside the hospital (which means her heart is no longer pumping properly), she is 10% less likely to receive CPR than a man. Women are too less likely to survive resuscitation and a greater risk of brain damage after cardiac arrest.

These are just a few of the many unequal health outcomes women experience, along with transgender and non-binary people. Compared to men, their symptoms They are more likely to be rejected or misdiagnosed, or to take longer to receive a diagnosis.

Reluctance from bystanders

There is also more and more proof are women less likely to undergo CPR compared to men.

This may be partly due to the concerns of bystanders they are accused of sexual harassmentare concerned could cause damage (in some cases based on the perception that women are more ‘vulnerable’) and discomfort when touching a woman’s breast.

Bystanders can also experience problems recognize a woman goes into cardiac arrest.

Even in simulation scenarios, researchers have found that those who intervened were less likely to remove a woman’s clothing prepare for resuscitationcompared to men. And women were too less likely to receive CPR or defibrillation (an electrical charge to restart the heart) – even if the training was an online game where no one was touched.

There is evidence that people behave in CPR training scenarios reflects what they do in real emergency situations. This means it is crucial to train people to recognize cardiac arrest and be prepared to intervene, regardless of gender and body type.

Skewed towards male bodies

Most CPR training resources feature male bodies, or do not specify gender. If the bodies do not have breasts, it implies a male deficiency.

For example a 2022 study Looking at CPR training in North, Central, and South America, most of the manikins available were white (88%), male (94%), and lean (99%).

These studies mirror what we see in our own work training other healthcare providers in CPR. We noticed that all the manikins available for training are flat-chested. One of us (Rebecca) found it difficult to find manikins with breasts.

A single doll with breasts

Us new research investigated which resuscitation manikins are available and how diverse they are. We have identified twenty CPR manikins on the global market by 2023. Males are usually torso with a head and no arms.

Of the twenty available, five (25%) were sold as ‘female’ – but only one had breasts. This means that 95% of the available CPR training manikins had a flat chest.

We also looked at other markers of diversity, including skin color and larger bodies. We found that 65% had more than one skin color available, but only one was a larger body. More research is needed into how these aspects influence bystanders when providing CPR.

Breasts do not change resuscitation technique

The resuscitation technique does not change if someone has breasts. The barriers are cultural in nature. And even though you may feel uncomfortable, starting CPR as soon as possible can save a life.

Signs that someone may need CPR include not breathing properly or at all, or not responding to you.

To execute effective resuscitationyou must:

• place the heel of your hand on the center of their chest
• place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers (keeping your arms straight)
• press down hard, to a depth of about 2 inches, before releasing
• push the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute (you can sing a song) in your head to keep track of time!)

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What about a defibrillator?

You don’t have to take off someone’s bra to perform CPR. But it may be necessary if a defibrillator is required.

A defibrillator is a device that applies an electrical charge to restore the heartbeat. An underwire bra can cause a minor burn to the skin when the debrillator electrodes apply an electrical charge. But if you cannot remove the bra, make sure that care is not delayed.

What needs to change?

Our research highlights the need for a range of CPR training manikins with breasts and different body sizes.

Training resources should better prepare people to intervene and perform CPR on people with breasts. We need too greater education about women’s risk of developing heart-related diseases or dying.

Jessica Stokes Parishuniversity lecturer in medicine, Bond University And Rebecca A. SzaboHonorary Senior Lecturer in Critical Care and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Newborn Health, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.