Topless open water swim to challenge CPR stigma

A topless open water swim will take place later this year to challenge the stigma around giving women CPR.

The event, called DARE to BARE, is being held at Vobster Quay in Somerset on Sunday 23 August.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which is organising the event, said women are less likely to receive CPR from bystanders or survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than men.

This is because many people are reluctant to expose or touch women's breasts, the charity added.

Critical Care Practitioner at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Claire Baker said: "Unfortunately, I have witnessed the consequences of delayed or absent CPR, and the evidence is clear that women are disproportionately affected.

"Women experiencing cardiac arrest at home, or in a public place, are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men.

"In a cardiac arrest, every minute without intervention reduces survival by up to 10%, and any delay can be fatal."

Alongside the swim, participants will learn CPR skills using the charity's new female manikins which have been introduced to help reduce any stigma about using the resuscitation method on women.

Tania Eveleigh, Events Manager at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said: "Around a quarter of our call-outs are for cardiac arrests, where early intervention from bystanders can be critical.

"Every participant will not only help raise funds for our life-saving service but will also have the opportunity to learn potentially life-saving CPR skills and gain the confidence to act in an emergency."

The sponsored swim will also raise funds for the Air Ambulance.

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