A recent study shows that women are less prepared to provide first aid than men. Of course, we are not talking about the professional rescuers, but about the observers who are less trying to revive the women. What does this mean? Paramedic Marcin Borkowski points to one of the possible reasons.
Every minute and even second in a life-threatening situation is worth its weight in gold. However, as it turns out, women are less inclined to provide first aid than men.
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– This activity is related to intimate activity, – notes Marcin Borkovsky, paramedic. “This action” means touching a woman's chest or wearing underwear when a defibrillator is needed.
To break the embarrassment, Marcin Borkowski trains with costumed phantoms. – There is nothing to be ashamed of in the rescue service, especially when there is a cardiac arrest, – emphasizes Marcin Borkowski.
Shame usually stems from a lack of knowledge. – The witnesses of the incident are afraid that the presence of breasts in women is somehow an obstacle to resuscitation – notes Jagoda Mikolajczyk, assistant doctor of the emergency department, who manages the Instagram profile “Woman in an ambulance”.
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Women's organizations admit that these fears are not surprising, as few of the phantoms we teach first aid to have breasts. The vast majority of them are male or so-called neutral phantoms with little breasts shown.
– They are afraid if it will be persecuted or if they can really do it, because they know how to press flat breasts, but with breasts it is different, – notes Dr. Katarzyna Šumlewicz from the Center for Women's Rights. – Some people say that they simply do not know that they are pressing in the right place, because they have never been educated about female phantoms – adds Katarzyna Zieba from the “Bustaunicki” Social Campaign.
What was the result of the elimination of personal invitations to preventive examinations?
There are no excuses in a life-threatening situation
The question is, is it simply a lack of knowledge or is the help actually delivered differently? – There is no difference between helping a woman and a man – emphasizes Anna Stavika, coordinator of the educational program “We save and save” of the Great Orchestra of the Christmas Charity Foundation.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity has trained three million people over the past dozen years. The lessons are aimed at children first to teach them from the beginning that we help everyone. – Children do not have this hesitation. We, adults, are looking for excuses, – admits Anna Stavika.
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However, there is no excuse in a life-threatening situation. – To put it very briefly, we behave as if the breasts are not there, that is, we can imagine that this is a phantom, a person, and we perform exactly the same compression technique, – advises professor Aleksandra Gasecka, cardiologist of the University of medical from Warsaw.
So, we remind you: 30 compressions at the level of the sternum and two breaths – for both men and women. A greater or lesser chance of survival should not depend on who we are, and especially not on whether we are male or female. Neither fear nor prejudice, but help should always come first.
Main photo source: Fact TVN
