Page 2 | Taking off bras to do CPR

HangingOver · 2026-05-01T08:23:16+00:00

Did anyone else see the world service article about bras and CPR? [[https://www.instagram.com/p/DXjDPF0H9u-?igsh=azk4N282amY5b2Ri 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".

decorationday · 02/05/2026 16:05

CPR means manual chest compressions and rescue breaths - it's not the same as using a defibrillator?

Iwanttobeafraser · 02/05/2026 16:05

When I did a first aid course last year we talked about this. The trainer was one who had worked on creating training courses and he was saying that there's often this worry about being sued or whatever but a) in this country, that's not actually possible and b) even in America, it happens very rarely and c) he had been involved in some training or course or something with a group of muslim women who were wearing hijabs and he said in the context of this they all agreed that uncomfortable though it would make them, they would still want their bra removed.

Destiny123 · 02/05/2026 16:11

Iwanttobeafraser · 02/05/2026 16:05

When I did a first aid course last year we talked about this. The trainer was one who had worked on creating training courses and he was saying that there's often this worry about being sued or whatever but a) in this country, that's not actually possible and b) even in America, it happens very rarely and c) he had been involved in some training or course or something with a group of muslim women who were wearing hijabs and he said in the context of this they all agreed that uncomfortable though it would make them, they would still want their bra removed.

Yeah the good Samaritan act covers members of the public so it's nit going to happen

(One of the reasons drs have private indemnity ontop of NHS is someone got sued for the resultant rib fractures but that's cos we have a greater responsibility via work knowledge but slso ridiculous

sunnybluesky75 · 02/05/2026 16:23

You don't need to take off a bra to do CPR. Just cut through the bra to attach the pads when using an AED. The breasts will naturally stay in place on a very small women or fall either side if they are large chested.

If you are a women you are less likely to have and CPR and defibrillation undertake on you for men's fears of being accused of inappropriate touching.

As I tell all my learners- if I go into cardiac arrest now and need an AED I a) don't care who sees my breast b) don't care who has to touch them to place the pad and c) don't care how many ribs you break! (Research by the university of New York showed that a lay person was more likely to break ribs).

Greybeardy · 02/05/2026 16:24

have done more CPR than I really want to remember (on real people) - you do not need to remove a bra to do effective chest compressions and, unless a defib is immediately available, it is chest compressions are the vital thing (for every minute that someone is in cardiac arrest and not receiving chest compressions their chance of getting a pulse back drops by about 10%).

When a defib becomes available removing a bra may make it easier to site the pads and may make it less likely that burns could happen. If you have scissors to cut off a bra then you can cut that person's top up the side rather than down the middle so it is easier to replace as a modesty sheet once the pads are in place (we should probably doing that whatever gender the person is). Without a pair of scissors, in an out of hospital first-aid scenario, I'm not sure I'd fanny about trying to get a bra off tbh...just lift the relevant bits to put the pads on underneath...if they survive to complain about burns then you've probably done a good job! (ECG dots are different - getting them in quite specific places is important to give more subtle information)

Kristof · 29/05/2026 08:58

Greybeardy · 02/05/2026 16:24

have done more CPR than I really want to remember (on real people) - you do not need to remove a bra to do effective chest compressions and, unless a defib is immediately available, it is chest compressions are the vital thing (for every minute that someone is in cardiac arrest and not receiving chest compressions their chance of getting a pulse back drops by about 10%).

When a defib becomes available removing a bra may make it easier to site the pads and may make it less likely that burns could happen. If you have scissors to cut off a bra then you can cut that person's top up the side rather than down the middle so it is easier to replace as a modesty sheet once the pads are in place (we should probably doing that whatever gender the person is). Without a pair of scissors, in an out of hospital first-aid scenario, I'm not sure I'd fanny about trying to get a bra off tbh...just lift the relevant bits to put the pads on underneath...if they survive to complain about burns then you've probably done a good job! (ECG dots are different - getting them in quite specific places is important to give more subtle information)

The advised position of the pads has changed since October 25, along with a few other changes with regards to cpr. If a person is wearing a bra you can not get the pads in the best position. Because of the hesitation over dignity women are 27% less likely to receive bystander CPR than men. If there is a AED available it should have a pair of tuff scissors with it. Cut the straps and the center bridge, get the pads in the right place.

Kristof · 29/05/2026 09:19

Sorry should have clarified that. For CPR , as before mentioned the bra does not matter. For a AED it does. As a side note for anyone who may do CPR it use to be advised that it should be performed on a firm surface, so removing from a bed to the floor. That has now changed, just increase compression to compensate, and kneeling next to them to help compress the mattress. The ratio of breaths to compression has also changed. In most first aid courses they teach that with adults compression first then breathes if trained….. this is correct except for drowning