What is the CPR Discrepancy?
A discrepancy is defined as an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts (Oxford). Simply put, a discrepancy should not exist with regards to an emergency treatment.
Yet the Bystander-CPR rate in Singapore is declining: Reported at 56.2% in 2020, which is a significant drop from 60% in 2019.
This highlights a lingering hesitation among bystanders when it comes to performing CPR. Whether it's due to a lack of confidence or biases based on gender, we’ll explore these concerns and offer solutions for the CPR discrepancy.
Myths About CPR
Cardiac arrest patients are usually older and/or sick
Many casualties of cardiac arrest have no history of medical problems. Regardless of age, race or gender, all casualties should be treated equally. That is, all of them should receive the same initial assessment and treatment should they suffer from a cardiac arrest.
When someone collapses, they should be treated with the same urgency and care. Delaying CPR based on assumptions could have serious consequences—brain death can occur in just 4–6 minutes without blood flow.
Doing CPR on a woman is inappropriate
A study done by DukeNUS, across 9 different Asian communities, found that the B-CPR rates were 31.2 per cent for females and 36.4 per cent for males for public incidents.
Bystanders did not perform CPR for several reasons, including emotional stress, fear of causing harm, and concerns about sexual misconduct allegations.
One way to address this is by introducing female manikins or specially designed manikin vests into first aid courses. These tools could help participants feel more comfortable performing CPR on women.
Regardless of gender, the CPR and AED process is the same, and with more practice, confidence and willingness to assist in real-life emergencies should increase and close the gap for the CPR discrepancy.
The Impact of Hesitation
When a trained bystander chooses not to help, even though they know how to perform CPR, it raises an ethical question:
Could this be considered discriminatory?
First aid training exists to empower us with the skills to save lives, but when hesitation takes over—whether from fear or stereotypes—the survival chances of a cardiac arrest victim drop.
This hesitation is a key factor in the CPR discrepancy between BCPR rates based on gender or age.
Choosing not to perform CPR based on preconceived notions is dangerous. It implies that we have the right to decide who gets a second chance at life and who doesn’t. In an emergency, we need to set aside all prejudices and help in any way we can.
Accidents happen far too often and too frequently for any form of hesitation to occur. It is a privilege to be able to save lives, to be well-equipped to provide aid.
Take a first aid course and be ready for emergencies. Everyone deserves the chance to be saved.
References
Gender disparities among adult recipients of layperson bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation by location of cardiac arrest in Pan-Asian communities: A registry-based study