Why Female Manikins Matter in CPR Training

At First Aid Accident & Emergency, we believe CPR training should reflect real-life emergencies as closely as possible.

That is why we have introduced female CPR manikins into every CPR class we deliver.

For many years, CPR training has traditionally been performed on male-style manikins. While the fundamentals of CPR remain the same, there are important practical considerations when performing CPR and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on a female patient.

Our aim is to make sure every student leaves our course confident and prepared to respond appropriately, regardless of whether the casualty is male or female.

Training Students to Respond Correctly

One of the biggest areas of hesitation when treating a female patient can be uncertainty around clothing, bra removal and AED pad placement.

In a real cardiac arrest, these concerns should never delay lifesaving treatment.

As part of our CPR training, students are now given practical instruction using female manikins so they can learn the correct way to:

• Expose the chest appropriately to perform CPR and apply an AED
• Remove or move a bra when necessary
• Correctly position AED pads on a female patient
• Work around breast tissue to ensure the pads are placed directly onto the chest
• Maintain the patient’s dignity while still providing immediate lifesaving care
• Understand that CPR and defibrillation should never be delayed because the casualty is female

This hands-on training is designed to remove uncertainty and give students greater confidence if they are ever faced with a real emergency.

Correct AED Pad Placement on a Female Patient

AED pads must be placed directly onto bare skin and positioned according to the diagrams shown on the AED pads.

For a female patient, breast tissue may need to be moved slightly to allow the lower AED pad to be positioned correctly on the side of the chest.

If a bra interferes with CPR or AED pad placement, it may need to be removed or moved out of the way.

The priority is always to provide effective CPR and defibrillation as quickly as possible.

Our students are taught these practical steps during their training rather than simply discussing them in theory.

Removing the Hesitation Around CPR on Women

In an emergency, seconds matter.

People can sometimes hesitate before providing CPR or using an AED on a woman because they are worried about exposing the chest, touching the breast area or removing clothing.

That hesitation can cost valuable time.

By introducing female manikins into every CPR class, we are helping normalise these situations during training so students know exactly what to do before they are ever faced with the real thing.

Our message is simple:

If someone is in cardiac arrest, their gender should never delay CPR or defibrillation.

Making CPR Training More Realistic

Good CPR training is about more than learning where to put your hands.

It is about preparing people for the realities of an emergency.

That includes teaching students how to deal confidently and respectfully with different body types, clothing and situations they may encounter.

By using female CPR manikins across all of our CPR courses, First Aid Accident & Emergency is helping ensure students receive more realistic, inclusive and practical training.

Our goal is to give every student the confidence to act quickly, correctly and without hesitation when someone’s life depends on it.

First Aid Accident & Emergency – Training people for real emergencies.