Women are 27% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR.
Our mission is to address this gender disparity.
Johner Images
The LifeSaveHer
A CPR Training Device To Improve
Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates for Women
Our Prototype
We have designed a female-anatomy adjunct for CPR training manikins.
Our prototype has been implemented at Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and WashU. Now, we are working on introducing the LifeSaveHer into classes nationally.
The CPR Gap
350,000 Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year.
With rapid CPR and AED use, there is a 7x increase in survival likelihood.
Women are...
29%
Less likely to survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than men.
27%
Less likely to receive bystander CPR than men.
Why is there such disparity?
Bystanders witnessing a woman in cardiac arrest may hesitate to perform CPR due to...
Fear of touching a female chest
Fear of legal accusations
Belief that the woman is “faking it”
Belief that women do not need CPR
Proper AED administration requires the victim to have a naked torso.
Current Female Manikins are Impractical, Expensive, and Unrealistic
Existing female CPR manikins available for purchase can be four times more expensive than male CPR manikins, which already range from $200-$1000. Female manikin attachments are not universal and require additional purchases of a specific manikin, which is burdensome for CPR training centers, which are usually non-profits with limited funds. These attachments can resemble a strapless bra, undermining the message that all clothes must be removed from the torso to properly attach an AED to deliver life-saving shocks. Additionally, the material used in some manikin attachments is not AED-compatible.
How the LifeSaveHer works
Realistic
Mimics the appearance and tactile experience of CPR performance on female torso
Durable
Able to withstand repeated chest compressions across multiple CPR training sessions
Adaptable
Compatible with the most commonly used male-torso manikins
Cost-Effective
Less than or equal to $59, a price obtained through conversing with AHA representatives
Compatible with AED pads and feedback displays
Broader Goals of LifeSaveHer
Improve the Gender Inclusivity of AHA CPR Education!
Currently, CPR classes require practicing compressions and AEDs on male, flat-chested manikins. Furthermore, there is not adequate representation of non-male individuals in the modules. Every five years the American Heart Association revises its guidelines for its CPR/AED classes, and the next revision will take place in 2025. Our hope is to obtain enough signatures on this petition to convince the AHA to adjust its class requirements to include greater representation of non-male individuals, specifically females. Sign and join the change to reduce the gender gap in CPR/AED!
Our Sponsors
Language Disclaimer
Current literature on bystander CPR frequently separates people along the gender binary, which influences the language used on this website. For the purposes of this website, we equate being "female" and "a woman" with having developed breast tissue. However, as a team, we recognize that care must be taken to respect individuals’ gender identities. Not all women have breasts, and not all individuals with breasts are women. MIT EMS and Harvard CrimsonEMS support all gender identities and look forward to a future of CPR research that accounts for the more complex realities of gender. Please let us know the ways in which we can improve our use of language.