Taking off bras to do CPR

[HangingOver]

Did anyone else see the world service article about bras and CPR?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXjDPF0H9u-/?igsh=azk4N282amY5b2Ri

Even after many many years of being on the internet I found these comments pretty shocking.

Some even go as far as to suggest women deserve to die because "feminism".

The emphasis in the campaign is on having female CPR dummies- which makes such a lot of sense. We rely on muscle memory, practise. When we’re surprised by a body that looks different from what we practised on, it’s an obstacle. They should be in a range of skin tones as well.

As for the men spouting about risking being sued? Let’s face it, they weren’t going to do CPR anyway. They were going to watch and shout about whose fault it was.

And do I think men have taken the opportunity to cop a feel, and so faced accusations? Yes I do.

As for the men spouting about risking being sued? Let’s face it, they weren’t going to do CPR anyway

Actually you're probably right.

In the NHS we have big scissors on the crash trolley to cut bras off.
Our CPR training talks about this at length.
Resusci Anne's are based on a very small breasted woman
www.defibshop.co.uk/blog/post/do-you-know-the-story-behind-resusci-anne

I'm a first aid trainer. I always remind people im training that removing a bra to save a life is fine. Remove unnecessary bystanders but make sure someone stays with you if possible.

I suppose the article has served an educational purpose because I had never considered bras and CPR. I've never done a first aid course, needed CPR or been present when anyone is doing it.

I suppose most people getting CPR in films and on TV are men? I've not watched casualty in a looong time!
I watched Homeland recently and can't remember if the main (female) character got CPR. So much going on in that series surely she must have at some point!

I recently had an ECG, and they had to get right up under there to get the pads in the right place - I was naked from the waist up to make it possible.

It was a minor plot point on 'The Pitt' this season too - Robbie had a go at the. paramedics who'd put the sensors in the wrong place because they didn't move the lady's boobs out of the way to do it

Are they able to cut an underwired bra?

Saw this on the Pitt too, the training should be given on both male and female resuscitation dummies.

You cut the band or between the cups, not the wires

@HangingOver Jenny Legg, Founder and CEO of Bra Off Defib On is striving to tackle the taboo.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance is also tackling this subject.

Do community AEDs have a pair of scissors as part of their kit?

I’ve carried out CPR twice in 45 years since starting nursing, both in hospital before the team arrived so neither in that sort of situation, but, if it ever happened in the outside world, I’d like to think that firstly the recipient was more concerned about hopefully being saved than having their bra removed and secondly, having a sly feel would genuinely not be something I’d be thinking about

Yes, the ones we look after do - I'll do some asking around.

You just cut the sides wheres there's no wires

I’m sure you wouldn’t. Absolutely sure.

Sadly, some men would. That doesn’t make any difference to the need for CPR and managing bras and breasts in the process.

It just means there will be women who have become unwell and then been assaulted by a man under the guise of doing first aid. I think it’s important for bystanders to assist, and witness where necessary.

And sadly, I’d have to agree that some men would, hopefully any woman in that situation would be attended either by a professional crew or someone whose primary focus was on saving life

I deliver first aid and have been a first aider for years. The only people who have ever had a problem with bras in CPR situations are men who see women's boobs as something solely for their enjoyment.

Over 30 years ago I did a course of training at work. I don’t remember if it was general first aid or CPR specifically but we had a dummy. The instructor was very concerned that if you were working on a woman you should make sure her skirt was pulled down modestly during the efforts to save her life.
My colleagues and I found it confusing and now I still wonder what was going on with him. Maybe he had seen some bad behaviour? Or maybe just the idea that a woman has modesty on her mind at all times? It wasn’t just an aside about maintaining the dignity of an unwell person, it was peculiar.

Cut the side/middle cloth bit then flip it apart (anaesthetist)

There is someone locally who does CPR training and collects second hand bras to put on the dummies so that people can practice cutting them off

Question. I hear CPR is pretty intense. Surely a bra isn’t going to get in the way?

It's to stop chest burns from the defib shock conducting via the metal. No impact on cpr what so ever

Devon air ambulance have done a lots of work around this too. Brilliant videos and been on the news

Insofar as I was aware there is no need to remove a bra for CPR, only when you're using a defibrillator.

Typical - only a man could make removing a bra to do lifesaving CPR about them and their needs. They have no problem removing them any other time!

Women have been assaulted by men for hundreds of years when unable to defend themselves, why get squeamish about it with CPR.