Female CPR training manikins are being introduced by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to help address concerns that may prevent people from giving lifesaving assistance to women suffering cardiac arrests.
The manikins have been funded by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity and will be used by the Trust’s Community Engagement team and volunteers during CPR training sessions across the region.
Research by St John Ambulance found that a third of people in Britain were afraid to perform CPR on a woman because they were worried about touching her breasts. The research also found that 38% would feel uncomfortable using a defibrillator on a woman because its pads must be placed on bare skin on the chest.
The new manikins were used during Restart a Heart Day on Friday, October 16, when Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff and volunteers visited more than 160 secondary schools across the region, training 35,000 students in CPR.
Addressing concerns about helping women
Sasha Bipin, a community engagement officer with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said participants in CPR training frequently asked whether performing CPR on a woman differed from performing it on a man.
In my work with a range of diverse groups, including some that are predominantly male, I am often asked whether performing CPR on a woman differs from performing CPR on a man. Participants frequently raise concerns about maintaining a casualty’s dignity when carrying out chest compressions or using a defibrillator, with some worried that they could get into trouble for assisting a female.
She said similar concerns were raised by groups made up mainly of women, including questions about whether CPR could be performed effectively on a female casualty.
Having a female manikin helps to address these concerns, build confidence and ensure participants feel better prepared to provide lifesaving support to anyone who needs it.
Bystander CPR improves survival
Figures for 2025 show that bystanders intervened in 1,972 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests across Yorkshire. Their actions contributed to 643 hearts being restarted at the scene, with 132 people surviving long term, equivalent to 6.7% of cases where bystanders intervened.
By comparison, of 892 cardiac arrests where no bystander CPR was provided, 33 people survived beyond 30 days after hospital discharge, a rate of 3.7%.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service says early CPR and the use of a defibrillator can significantly improve a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.
Carey Taylor, head of Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity, said women were less likely than men to receive CPR and defibrillation from bystanders.
By funding the provision of female manikins during training sessions, the YAS Charity aims to change perceptions and give people the reassurance to know that acting fast is the right thing to do to save a life regardless of gender.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service encourages people to learn CPR through its Restart a Heart website, which includes training resources and an instructional video.