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Women are 27% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR.

Our mission is to address this gender disparity.

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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.

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Our prototype has been implemented at Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, and WashU. Now, we are working on introducing the LifeSaveHer into classes nationally.

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Preorder a LifeSaveHer here.

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The CPR Gap

350,000 Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year.

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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...

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Fear of touching a female chest

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Fear of legal accusations

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Belief that the woman is “faking it”

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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

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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

Research Study Published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services

This study is the first to assess the impact of manikin breast adjuncts during CPR training.

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Sign Our Petition!

Join 35,000+ others who support CPR educational reform

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Improve the Gender Inclusivity of AHA CPR Education!

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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

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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. 

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