Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Understanding Female CPR Training
- Why Do Women Receive Less CPR?
- How to Do CPR on a Woman?
- Using an AED on Women
- Benefits of Female CPR Training
- Being Comfortable with Female CPR
- Final Thoughts on Performing Female CPR
Introduction
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving skill that can prevent death in cases of cardiac arrest. These first aid techniques are applicable to both men and women. However, studies show that rescuers are less likely to perform CPR on women than on men. This makes the female survival rate lower than males. That is why it has become necessary to give female CPR training through specialized courses. This training ensures that individuals are ready to provide first aid, regardless of gender.
This guide will discuss more about performing CPR on woman, its benefits, and other details.
Understanding Female CPR Training
Female CPR training is a specialized course that teaches individuals how to perform life-saving CPR techniques specifically for women. This training covers essential skills like woman CPR hand placement and other ways to act quickly.
The need and basic techniques for CPR for a female are the same as those for a man, there are additional considerations to keep in mind. It is crucial to learn these techniques to ensure proper hand placement and compression depth, which are vital for effective CPR.
Read More: CPR Vs. BLS Training: What’s the Difference?
Why do Women Receive Less CPR?
Research has shown that only 39% of women receive bystander CPR compared to 45% of men. This disparity is largely due to hesitation and a lack of confidence among rescuers when it comes to performing women CPR.
Additional reasons include:
Restrictions Due to Social Norms
Some people may feel uncomfortable performing chest compressions on female patients due to concerns about touching or inappropriate physical contact. These social norms can lead to reluctance in providing emergency assistance.
Misconceptions About Symptoms
Cardiovascular disease in women is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to diagnostic challenges and gender-specific risk factors. A lack of clinical awareness can result in delays in recognizing the need for CPR in a woman.
Lack of Awareness and Training
Most CPR training is conducted using manikins designed to represent male anatomy. As a result, individuals trained on these models may feel more comfortable performing CPR on male victims than on females.
Gender Bias and Stereotypes
Fears of injuring a woman or being accused of inappropriate behavior are significant factors that deter bystanders from intervening. This highlights the urgent need for gender-specific CPR female training to address and overcome these biases.
How to Do CPR on a Woman?
The process of giving CPR to a woman is largely the same as performing it on a man, but there are a few important considerations to keep in mind during the female CPR process.
Below are the steps for administering CPR to a woman:
Check for Response
Ensure the area is safe before approaching the patient. If you find someone collapsed, gently shake their shoulders and ask loudly if they are okay to check for a response.
Assess Their Breathing
If the victim does not respond, shout for help and open their airway. Listen, watch, and feel the normal breathing for up to 10 seconds. Ignore occasional gasps, as they are common in the early stages of cardiac arrest and are not normal breathing.
Call for Help
If the victim is not breathing, instruct a helper to call emergency medical responders immediately. While waiting for them to arrive, begin chest compressions. Ask the helper to find and bring an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available. If you are alone, use the hands-free speaker on your phone to make the call while continuing CPR.
Perform CPR
Kneel beside the victim and place the heel of one hand on the center of their chest. For women, ensure correct hand placement by positioning your other hand on top of the first, interlocking your fingers. Keep your arms straight and press down firmly to a depth of about 5-6 cm. Deliver the chest compressions at the rates of 100-120 per minute.
Continue with the Procedure
You should continue performing CPR on the victim until one of the following occurs:
- Emergency responders arrive and take over.
- The victim begins to show signs of life and breathes normally.
- You become physically exhausted and cannot continue.
- An automated external defibrillator (AED) becomes available.
Using an AED on Women
The AED is a critical component of performing female CPR. You must be mindful of breast tissue and adjust accordingly. Here’s how to use an AED:
Prepare the AED
Turn the defibrillator on and take out the pads after getting the AED. Continue CPR while asking the helper to prepare the AED if the victim is unresponsive. They should remove or cut through clothing to expose the bare chest. This involves removing bras or binders if the female victim is wearing one. The AED kit should also include safety scissors for this purpose. Make sure to removeaway any sweat from the chest area.
Attach the Pads
The AED will provide voice prompts on further steps to the rescuer. Attach the pads to the female victim’s chest by removing the backing paper:
- Place the first pad on the upper right side of the victim’s chest below the collarbone.
- Place the second pad on the left side of the victim’s chest, below the armpit. Move the left breast back towards the center of the chest to allow proper pad placement.
Follow the AED Prompts
The AED will analyze the heart’s rhythm. Make sure to stop CPR and ensure no one is touching the victim while the defibrillator analyzes the situation. It may provide the following visual and verbal prompts:
- Tell everyone to stand back and press the shock button when instructed if necessary.
- The AED will instruct the rescuer to continue CPR for two minutes after giving shocks to the victim.
- Continue CPR for two minutes before the AED reanalyzes if the victim does not require shocks anymore.
Monitor the Victim
Place the victim in a recovery position if they show signs of responsiveness, such as coughing, opening their eyes, or speaking, and begin to breathe normally. Leave the AED attached and monitor their condition. Be prepared to resume CPR if necessary.
Read More: First Aid for an Unconscious Person
Benefits of Female CPR
Female CPR t can help save the lives of several women. It can also minimize the damaging effects that may occur while waiting for emergency responders. Additional benefits include:
Female CPR Saves Lives
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may happen to any woman at any time or place. The SCA victims must receive treatment immediately. CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from cardiac arrest if performed on time.
CPR Protects from Brain Death
The heart stops pumping blood to the brain during a cardiac arrest. It also disables blood supply to other vital organs. That is why the victim falls unconscious with a decrease in blood flow to the brain. Without proper blood flow, the woman’s brain can suffer damage in as few as three minutes. There can be irreversible damage after nine minutes without blood flow to the brain. Female CPR helps to keep blood flowing and minimizes the damage to the victim.
It Helps Learn What to Do During Cardiac Emergencies
Being trained in CPR provides the knowledge, confidence, and skills to help females with sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs). It teaches you how to stay calm in a medical emergency and help a female victim in need. Individuals certified in CPR know how to respond during emergencies and try to revive the victim immediately. They may also save the life of the person before the arrival of medical help.
Every Minute Counts in an Emergency
Every second counts in any medical emergency. Victims of cardiac arrests need immediate CPR to prevent damaging effects on their bodies. This happens due to a lack of blood flow to the brain, lungs, heart, and other organs. A female CPR can help increase the victim’s chance of survival.
Faster Recovery for the Victim
A female victim has higher rates of survival and recovery rate if they have a cardiac arrest and receive early CPR. The procedure can help restore breathing and blood flow and aid in the person’s recovery. The woman victim may return to life with minimal side effects after receiving CPR in certain cases.
Being Comfortable with Female CPR
There are several things that can help a person become more comfortable performing CPR on women. These include:
Efficient Training Courses
Interested individuals can select a training course that has dedicated female-focused lessons. It enables them to learn how to perform CPR on girl or women victims in emergencies. They can also get guidance on how to handle considerations related to chest compression and positioning.
Using Female Manikins
Choosing CPR training programs that utilize female manikins proves to be beneficial for the trainees. It involves using the PRESTAN Female Accessory, a breast add-on hooked to a male manikin. This way, the rescuers can perform chest compressions with a more realistic representation of the female anatomy.
Learning the Correct Procedures
It is necessary to know how to perform the correct CPR on woman victims. This involves learning how to use an AED on the victim or giving them chest compressions. It includes understanding how to position the hands properly and following the correct steps when applying AED pads.
Empowering Ladies Performing CPR
Training more women to give CPR is another way to ensure that people are ready to act in emergencies. Female responders may have more knowledge about specific concerns related to women victims. This enables them to enhance the quality of care they give to the victims.
Final Thoughts on Performing Female CPR
Female CPR may sound confusing or tough but it is not the case. There is little or no difference between performing this procedure on men or women. Yet, several bystanders find it uncomfortable to perform CPR on a woman due to various reasons. That is why it is necessary to give gender-specific training to everyone during CPR courses. This enables the rescuers to respond immediately in emergencies.
There are some additional considerations to keep in mind when giving CPR to women. Interested individuals can learn these considerations during their training period. This enables them to conduct the perfect CPR and save the life of the victim.
It is also necessary to choose an organization that offers the most efficient CPR training. This enables the trainees to understand the process better and get more insights into female CPR.
