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St John introduces female-form manikins to tackle cardiac arrest survival gender gap

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time1 min
Hato Hone St John has introduced 16 female-form manikins into its free community CPR and AED training programme, aiming to address a well-documented gender gap in survival following cardiac arrest.

The manikins, donated by the Medical Assurance Society, are being used in the 3 Steps for Life training programme. Research has shown that women face additional barriers to receiving bystander CPR and defibrillation, according to St John spokesperson Jacci Tatnell.

Tatnell said these barriers include concern about exposing breasts and uncertainty about where to place AED pads. The new manikins are intended to make training more realistic and help bystanders overcome these obstacles.

The initiative reflects growing awareness that standard CPR training, which has traditionally used male-shaped manikins, may not adequately prepare people to perform the procedure on women. Studies have indicated that women experiencing cardiac arrest are less likely to receive bystander CPR and defibrillation than men, and survival rates are lower as a result.

The 3 Steps for Life programme is free and open to communities across New Zealand. St John hopes the female-form manikins will encourage more people to learn CPR and feel confident applying it to all patients.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Cardiac arrest survival rates are significantly lower for women, partly due to reluctance from bystanders to perform CPR or use AEDs
  • Introducing anatomically representative training manikins could help normalise the procedure for female patients
  • The initiative highlights a broader need for gender-inclusive medical training equipment

Background

Research has consistently shown that women are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men, a disparity often attributed to factors including concern about exposing the chest, misidentification of cardiac arrest symptoms, and uncertainty about proper pad placement. Traditional CPR manikins have predominantly featured male anatomy, which critics say reinforces a training blind spot. St John's move to introduce female-form manikins follows similar efforts in other countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

Key Perspectives

St John (Hato Hone): The ambulance service aims to close the survival gap by providing training that reflects the diversity of patients. Spokesperson Jacci Tatnell cited research showing additional barriers for women, including concern about exposing breasts and uncertainty about AED pad placement. Medical researchers and advocates: Public health experts have long called for more representative training tools. The initiative aligns with evidence that realistic, inclusive training improves bystander confidence and action. Critics and skeptics: Some may question whether manikins alone are sufficient to overcome deep-seated social and cultural barriers that prevent bystanders from acting, particularly concerns about personal boundaries and legal implications.

What to Watch

  • Whether other New Zealand training providers adopt female-form manikins
  • Future data on bystander CPR rates for women in New Zealand
  • Potential expansion of the programme to include manikins representing other body types

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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