Why women are more likely to die from a heart attack – and what you can do about it.

You see a man and a woman each having a heart attack. Who are you most likely to stop and help?

It sounds like a strange question. But it’s a vital one. That’s because recent research suggests passers-by are less likely to help a woman in cardiac arrest than a man in the same situation.

Why? According to a study led by cardiologist Dr Hanno Tan at the University of Amsterdam, it’s often because people don’t recognise when a woman is experiencing a cardiac arrest, so they don’t call for an ambulance or provide CPR in time.

At Splat Training, we work with everyone to share the skills you need to save lives of those of any gender. But as a team that’s 80% women, these unequal heart attack survival rates are really worrying, especially when coupled with scary statistics from across Europe and real-life stories close to home.

What do the stats show?

Dr Tan’s research, published in the European Heart Journal, revealed that:

·????????Only 68% of women are likely to receive bystander CPR (for men, that figure’s 73%).

·????????From the time of cardiac arrest to hospital admission, the survival rate for women is 34% (but 37% for men).

·????????Once admitted, women are less likely to survive, with just 37% making it to hospital discharge stage (it’s 55% of men).

In fact, researchers from the University of Leeds found that ‘more than 8,200 women in England and Wales could have survived their heart attacks had they been given the same treatment as men’ [BHF report].

That makes scary reading, doesn’t it? So, what do we do for this to change?

What do you need to know to improve things?

The first step to increasing women’s (and, indeed, men’s) survival rates from cardiac arrests is to understand the signs of a heart attack so you can spot it, stop walking, and step in to help.

The key things to look out for are signs of chest pain, dizziness and feeling lightheaded. A person may, of course, have collapsed and not be breathing or moving – nor responding when you touch or speak to them. It’s also crucial you know that women are more likely to experience a wider range of symptoms, such as feeling or being sick, shortness of breath, and back or jaw pain.

When you’ve spotted the signs, grab a phone and call 999 for an ambulance without hesitation. Then, you must begin CPR: chest compressions with the heel of your hand on the breastbone, your other hand on top of your first hand, and your entire bodyweight pressing down by 5 to 6cm on the chest. Keep going until the ambulance arrives.

If there’s someone else with you, they should see if there’s a defibrillator nearby, grab it and use it to send an electric pulse to try to restart the heart. But if you’re alone, and you can’t immediately spot a defibrillator, never stop CPR to go find one.

What’s happening in real life? Libbie’s story

Statistics alone are scary. But when you add a real-life emergency, it shows us what’s really happening to women – and young ones, too – who are experiencing cardiac arrests.

28 year-old Libbie bravely tells us what happened when she collapsed and needed CPR in November 2022:

‘I never thought I’d need to receive CPR, especially not in my twenties. But I started to feel really unwell on a night shift at work, then collapsed. While unconscious, I stopped breathing.

Thankfully, some of my colleagues are first aid trained. One called 999 for an ambulance, and followed the operator’s instructions to find the nearest defibrillator. Another performed CPR on me until the ambulance crew arrived. I don’t remember this, or indeed anything that happened 4-5 hours afterwards. But what I do know is that their knowledge and immediate actions saved my life.

My ribs and chest show (and feel!) the effects of the CPR. But it’s a tiny price to pay for a lifesaving action. If I’d been alone when I stopped breathing, I don’t think I’d be here to tell the tale. I have this second chance at life thanks to my everyday CPR heroes. I’m eternally grateful.’

What can you do to increase your skills?

Libbie’s story is a scary one, and a reminder that knowing CPR and being able to use it is a lifesaving skill. It’s one of the big things we teach on our first aid courses here at Splat Training. We’ll discuss and demonstrate CPR, showing everything from the rhythm and force you need to the different point for pressure on a woman’s breastbone. Then, you’ll have plenty of chance to practice on our CPR dummies so you’ve got the perfect technique.

Every minute that passes without CPR reduces cardiac arrest survival by up to 10%. Join us for your first course or an invaluable refresher and you’ll learn how to spot signs and perform CPR so you can save a woman’s – or a man’s – life without hesitation.

Book your life saving training here.