CPR training is now more inclusive with female form mannequins

East Midlands Ambulance Service is now using female CPR mannequins thanks to a recent charitable donation as the Trust looks to support more inclusive training at events and boost public confidence about performing chest compressions on women.

By using female mannequins for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the public, EMAS says that it means the public will have a more realistic experience of what it’s like to perform CPR on a woman and reduce delays in delivering CPR before an ambulance arrives..

This move is intended to address concerns that people may have about knowing where to place their hands, about causing harm, feeling uncomfortable about touching a woman’s chest or removing their clothing to deliver compressions.

EMAS technician Maisie Stimson noticed the public’s response to performing CPR on women and applied to the EMAS Charitable Fund for investment in female mannequins. “After teaching CPR at community events like Pride, it became clear that the training equipment didn’t reflect the people we care for,” explains Maisie.

“While we have a range of CPR mannequins, including different sizes and skin tones, we didn’t have any that represented the female anatomy. The new mannequins will help our teams deliver more realistic training in schools and at community events.”

One of the reasons for doing this, says EMAS, is to address evidence that women are less likely to survive an ‘out of hospital’ cardiac arrest compared to men. Research published in the European Heart Journal in 2019 and the American Heart Association in 2024 both showed that women suffering an ‘out of hospital’ cardiac arrest are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander.

To see more mannequins up close, visit The Emergency Services Show at the NEC in Birmingham on 16 and 17 September. Register to attend here.