Women and those with breasts are less likely to receive life-saving CPR with an automated external defibrillator (AED) when they experience a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
That's why BC Emergency Health Services — in partnership with Royal Canadian Marine SAR, WorkSafeBC, Red Cross, Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon, and St. John Ambulance — held a public demonstration last Thursday (June 26) at the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen to increase awareness of the importance of "CPR and AED use for everyBODY."
Using an approved anatomically-correct female-bodied training mannequin, paramedic public information officer Brian Twaites showed members of the public how CPR is performed and where the AED pads are placed.
“We want people to be aware that it’s okay to touch somebody to give them the lifesaving care they may need,” Twaites said.
Many people who watched the demonstration, including a lifeguard who was trained in CPR, said they had never seen a female-bodied training mannequin.
“They said it was a good thing we were showing this,” Twaites said.
“CPR with the use of an AED can more than double your chance of survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Knowing these numbers, we encourage everyone to take CPR and AED training because you too can save a life.”
Anyone interested in learning more can check out the "CPR for everyBODY" video on the BCEHS YouTube page (@bcehs).
