In my 25 years working in the medical field, I cannot remember one single instance where CPR training or, more recently, AED use have employed either imaging or mannequins depicting female patients. I think this process of teaching the CPR and AED use in women should start with proper type of training we, people in the medical field, receive. The Jane Doe mannequin is long due.
Excellent article, as always! Thank you for the work you do!
I originally made an instagram reel on this topic, and even just finding pictures of women receiving CPR for the video was hard! I agree mannequins and other depictions of women getting CPR will help normalize this as a 100% appropriate thing to do.
Way overdue! I'm no expert in the mannequin industry, but I imagine that realistic shapes made of silicone (or another easy-to-clean, durable/replaceable material with a realistic feel) could be placed on and taken off the existing mannequins. There are several fasteners, which might work well.
JustRaven's point about body shapes is a good one, and other external prosthetics could be done similarly. CPR practice could start with clothed mannequins. Nothing carries the same emotional impact as real-life, but practice under more realistic conditions helps.
40 years of CPR training, never had to use it once, not even with also being a volunteer with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and being the first aider for 20 years, and in all that time the "adult" mannequins were the generic genderless flat-chested dummies. It's way past time to add more realistic aka female mannequins. Also considering how many obese/overweight men and women there are, perhaps bulk up the next generation of dummies since today's male victims may have slight "breasts."
We had a woman have an arrest during an ear lavage to remove wax in our family practice clinic. Rapid CPR and AED brought her back. We took the whole staff out for drinks that night to celebrate. It was a relatively rare event, but a successful one can be a highlight. Learn CPR.
Kristen, this is fabulous, thank you- much needed. I’m curious to know if there’s research addressing how many people (medical professionals and lay people) aren’t as familiar with the s/s of female presentation of cardiac issues and how they may present differently in women? This would also be great psychoeducation if you’ve not already covered it.
I prepared to do CPR (called for someone to call 911 and directly spoke to someone to get the AED and first aid kit). This was a vasovagal response, possibly with hypoglycemia, which responded to leg elevation and chewing a two-sugar tablet when more alert. She was breathing and had a slow, regular, but weak pulse. I was prepared to do CPR, given her age was 90, and I had no medical history. Paramedics came and took over, and she had been doing well.
This happened during a church service, and 2 parts those watching found disturbing; one, exposing her chest and cutting the bra, and the second was getting the EAD.
My personal debriefing was the need for education regarding effective CPR, which includes chest exposure for proper pad placement. Real life is not the same as a controlled classroom.
I am a retired RN with EMS and ER experience, and I also taught nursing at a local college.
My aunt survived a heart attack triggered by an adverse reaction to Motrin thanks to a man who performed CPR. She experienced significant rib pain afterward but was grateful to be alive and lived for more than 20 additional years until age caught up with her.
Took my first CPR class in thirty years last fall. I had to work to find one that was in person, not online. Given that most of the classes nowadays are online, can you comment on whether that makes sense? I assumed it was a whole lot better to actually be practicing and doing than just... watching videos?
I recently took a CPR class in person offered by my city's parks and rec department. We completed an online training through the Red Cross and then did the practice on mannequins, etc in person. I thought that combined method was very effective, I hope other cities are doing this too.
Thank you so much for this informative and very practical article. As a lay person, it’s been quite a while since I took a CPR class. I’m going to look for one.
I understand the problem, it's a scenario that I've already considered and decided on. As an elderly, bearded, male I also need to consider carefully how I, and bystanders, would react if it was a young child.
It hadn't even passed thru my mind that people would be hesitnt to do CPR on a female. General public, yes, but medical personel? To have the EMTs in the show be embarrased to place leads in the correct locaton due to their patient being a woman brought the point home, I'm not sure any EMTs I know would do this. It would be appropriate to have Annies....really Annies instead of just male torsos to practice on. 911
I’d never thought about this issue but as soon as I read this I started wondering how the dummies used in class might make a difference. I’ve had to take CPR for work or volunteer positions a couple of times, and it’s always a “Ken doll” type dummy to practice on. In other words, a dummy who represents one tiny slice of what sort of human one might be performing CPR on. (Most men don’t even have chests like these dummies!)
Lots of good stuff here. I definitely would not have performed cpr on someone since I'd never had training. I'd just assume I was making things worse. Knowing these things should be more wide spread.
Would like to see a discussion of the data that seems to indicate that CPR ( chest compressions, not AEDs) usually does more harm than good, especially in the elderly.
Well it saved my mother-in-law at age 86. And she is what would be considered fragile. Many variables when age is a factor. But, it turns out most want to live.
I asked for a discussion of data. It is wonderful, and very lucky for her, that your MIL was saved by something that leaves many elderly with broken ribs and punctured lungs, but it is not data. Relax.
I've taken CPR classes multiple times. The most recent is about 2 years ago. I did all the course work, practiced on Rescusci Annie (showing my age), etc. But, since I thankfully haven't had to use it, the lessons aren't there I don't think if I need it. I was wondering if once you take the course, perhaps the student could opt into an email that the Red Cross or whomever gives the class sends once a month as a quick refresher. A video perhaps with the high points. I'd watch it.
Love that you addressed this. I was pretty horrified by that situation on The Pitt, and glad it was called out. This is something I wasn’t previously aware of.
In my 25 years working in the medical field, I cannot remember one single instance where CPR training or, more recently, AED use have employed either imaging or mannequins depicting female patients. I think this process of teaching the CPR and AED use in women should start with proper type of training we, people in the medical field, receive. The Jane Doe mannequin is long due.
Excellent article, as always! Thank you for the work you do!
I originally made an instagram reel on this topic, and even just finding pictures of women receiving CPR for the video was hard! I agree mannequins and other depictions of women getting CPR will help normalize this as a 100% appropriate thing to do.
Way overdue! I'm no expert in the mannequin industry, but I imagine that realistic shapes made of silicone (or another easy-to-clean, durable/replaceable material with a realistic feel) could be placed on and taken off the existing mannequins. There are several fasteners, which might work well.
JustRaven's point about body shapes is a good one, and other external prosthetics could be done similarly. CPR practice could start with clothed mannequins. Nothing carries the same emotional impact as real-life, but practice under more realistic conditions helps.
Came to say the same thing. Way overdue.
Yes, I came here to say the same thing. Thirty years of completing CPR courses, and all the mannequins had flat breasts.
40 years of CPR training, never had to use it once, not even with also being a volunteer with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and being the first aider for 20 years, and in all that time the "adult" mannequins were the generic genderless flat-chested dummies. It's way past time to add more realistic aka female mannequins. Also considering how many obese/overweight men and women there are, perhaps bulk up the next generation of dummies since today's male victims may have slight "breasts."
I came here to say exactly the same thing! We need a Jane Doe mannequin
We had a woman have an arrest during an ear lavage to remove wax in our family practice clinic. Rapid CPR and AED brought her back. We took the whole staff out for drinks that night to celebrate. It was a relatively rare event, but a successful one can be a highlight. Learn CPR.
Kristen, this is fabulous, thank you- much needed. I’m curious to know if there’s research addressing how many people (medical professionals and lay people) aren’t as familiar with the s/s of female presentation of cardiac issues and how they may present differently in women? This would also be great psychoeducation if you’ve not already covered it.
Much happiness and many thanks 😊
Agree! Great suggestion
I prepared to do CPR (called for someone to call 911 and directly spoke to someone to get the AED and first aid kit). This was a vasovagal response, possibly with hypoglycemia, which responded to leg elevation and chewing a two-sugar tablet when more alert. She was breathing and had a slow, regular, but weak pulse. I was prepared to do CPR, given her age was 90, and I had no medical history. Paramedics came and took over, and she had been doing well.
This happened during a church service, and 2 parts those watching found disturbing; one, exposing her chest and cutting the bra, and the second was getting the EAD.
My personal debriefing was the need for education regarding effective CPR, which includes chest exposure for proper pad placement. Real life is not the same as a controlled classroom.
I am a retired RN with EMS and ER experience, and I also taught nursing at a local college.
My aunt survived a heart attack triggered by an adverse reaction to Motrin thanks to a man who performed CPR. She experienced significant rib pain afterward but was grateful to be alive and lived for more than 20 additional years until age caught up with her.
Took my first CPR class in thirty years last fall. I had to work to find one that was in person, not online. Given that most of the classes nowadays are online, can you comment on whether that makes sense? I assumed it was a whole lot better to actually be practicing and doing than just... watching videos?
I recently took a CPR class in person offered by my city's parks and rec department. We completed an online training through the Red Cross and then did the practice on mannequins, etc in person. I thought that combined method was very effective, I hope other cities are doing this too.
Thank you so much for this informative and very practical article. As a lay person, it’s been quite a while since I took a CPR class. I’m going to look for one.
Me too. And thank your so much for this article as well. I’m forwarding it on!
I understand the problem, it's a scenario that I've already considered and decided on. As an elderly, bearded, male I also need to consider carefully how I, and bystanders, would react if it was a young child.
It hadn't even passed thru my mind that people would be hesitnt to do CPR on a female. General public, yes, but medical personel? To have the EMTs in the show be embarrased to place leads in the correct locaton due to their patient being a woman brought the point home, I'm not sure any EMTs I know would do this. It would be appropriate to have Annies....really Annies instead of just male torsos to practice on. 911
I’d never thought about this issue but as soon as I read this I started wondering how the dummies used in class might make a difference. I’ve had to take CPR for work or volunteer positions a couple of times, and it’s always a “Ken doll” type dummy to practice on. In other words, a dummy who represents one tiny slice of what sort of human one might be performing CPR on. (Most men don’t even have chests like these dummies!)
Lots of good stuff here. I definitely would not have performed cpr on someone since I'd never had training. I'd just assume I was making things worse. Knowing these things should be more wide spread.
Would like to see a discussion of the data that seems to indicate that CPR ( chest compressions, not AEDs) usually does more harm than good, especially in the elderly.
Well it saved my mother-in-law at age 86. And she is what would be considered fragile. Many variables when age is a factor. But, it turns out most want to live.
Data, not apocryphal stories.
Wanna see pictures? Don’t call me a liar.
I asked for a discussion of data. It is wonderful, and very lucky for her, that your MIL was saved by something that leaves many elderly with broken ribs and punctured lungs, but it is not data. Relax.
Great. Love data. Don’t care for your snark.
I've taken CPR classes multiple times. The most recent is about 2 years ago. I did all the course work, practiced on Rescusci Annie (showing my age), etc. But, since I thankfully haven't had to use it, the lessons aren't there I don't think if I need it. I was wondering if once you take the course, perhaps the student could opt into an email that the Red Cross or whomever gives the class sends once a month as a quick refresher. A video perhaps with the high points. I'd watch it.
Love that you addressed this. I was pretty horrified by that situation on The Pitt, and glad it was called out. This is something I wasn’t previously aware of.
Straight and to the point - perfect for the subject.
You just confirmed what I have been thinking for quite awhile.