Improving CPR training through your donations
New mannequins for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the public are now being used by East Midlands Ambulance Service, thanks to kind donations to EMAS Charitable Fund.
The new female CPR mannequins will support more inclusive CPR training at events and address evidence that women are less likely to survive an ‘out of hospital’ cardiac arrest compared to men.
Women less likely to receive CPR from a bystander
Research from the British Heart Foundation shows that women suffering an ‘out of hospital’ cardiac arrest are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander.
The technique for CPR is exactly the same for women as it is for men, but the research suggests that people are less confident about performing chest compressions on women.
This is often because people feel unsure about where to place their hands, worry about causing harm, or feel uncomfortable about touching a woman’s chest or removing their clothing to deliver compressions – even if it could save their life.
More realistic and inclusive training
Using female mannequins normalises giving chest compressions on a woman's body.
The majority of CPR mannequins are based on the male body. The new mannequins purchased by EMAS Charitable Fund are based on the female body, giving people the chance to practice delivering chest compressions on a woman. It is hoped that more realistic and inclusive training equipment will help to build confidence and reduce delays in delivering CPR before an ambulance arrives.
EMAS technician Maisie Stimson identified the need for more representative mannequins while delivering CPR training to members of the public. This prompted her to apply to EMAS Charitable Fund for investment.
Maisie explains:
“After teaching CPR at community events like Pride, it became clear that the training equipment didn’t reflect the people we care for. While we have a range of CPR mannequins, including different sizes and skin tones, we didn’t have any that represented the female anatomy.”
“The new mannequins will help our teams deliver more realistic training in schools and at community events.”
“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone and acting quickly can save a life. By improving awareness and confidence within our communities, we hope to encourage more people to step forward and act in an emergency.”
Improvements made possible by public donations
The funding for the new mannequins has been made possible thanks to kind donations to EMAS Charitable Fund.
Jeff Worrall, EMAS Chair, and Chair of EMAS Charitable Fund, said:
“Thank you to everyone who has donated to EMAS Charitable Fund. Your support is directly helping to improve training and support lifesaving care across our communities. With the investment in new CPR mannequins, we’re able address a known issue that impacts women’s survival rates following a cardiac arrest.”
EMAS Charitable Fund is a registered charity. It funds projects and initiatives that enhance care for patients and improve the experiences of our staff. Donations support equipment, training and initiatives that go above and beyond core NHS funding, helping our teams deliver the best possible care.
Support EMAS Charitable Fund
Even small contributions can make a real difference to the care we provide across the region.
If you would like to support projects like this in the future, you can find out more about donating on the EMAS charitable donations page.
EMAS Charitable Funds