CPR for Women
Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim.
Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. It can affect a woman at any age, making it vital for all women to understand their personal risk factors and family history.
Lead the change for all women in your life starting with learning Hands-Only CPR and let go of that uncomfortable stigma of performing Hands-Only CPR on a woman because of her breasts. Saving her life is more important than feeling uncomfortable.
Less likely to receive bystander CPR
Women are often less likely to receive bystander CPR because rescuers often fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault or injuring the victim.
Many people believe that women are less likely to have heart problems and overdramatize incidents. It’s these fears and myths that lead to women being less likely to receive the lifesaving CPR help they need.
Together, we can:
- Raise awareness of cardiac arrest in women
- Improve training and bystander CPR rates for women by sharing our Hands-Only CPR + AED Woman video with your family, friends, social media networks and tag us on Facebook @AHACPR and Twitter @HeartCPR
- Advocate to improve research, education, and cardiac arrest response for everyone.
CPR Anytime Training Kits
Learn. Practice. Share.
The CPR Anytime® Training Kit allows you to learn basic lifesaving skills in about 20 minutes from the comfort and privacy of your home or workplace. Plus, CPR Anytime is completely portable, so it is easy to share with family and friends.
Get First Aid, CPR and AED Training Today
Heartsaver® courses offer blended learning and instructor-led classroom options for those that may or may not require a course completion card for work. Use our Find a Class tool to reach a network of authorized AHA Training Centers and Instructors offer in-person classroom training and skills sessions at convenient locations.
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Brittany Williams - saved by CPR
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Sharell Weeams - saved by CPR
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Emma’s Story
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Real Woman, Amy Cavaliere, 40
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Elizabeth Banks, “Just a Little Heart Attack”
Disparities and Cardiac Arrest Women and Minority Health
A 2020 advisory from the American Heart Association defined health disparities as "a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health" based on racial or ethnic background, or other characteristics linked to discrimination or exclusion. Women are not receiving optimal treatment, which comes from lack of access and/or lack of knowledge.
Women need CPR, too!

More and more people are surviving cardiac events - BUT NOT WOMEN.
#1 Killer of New Moms

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for more than one-fourth of maternal mortality in the U.S.. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates.
Maternal Death in the
U.S. Infographic

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Sarah's Story
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Real Woman, Erica Annise, 50
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Go Red for Women: Real Woman, Zuleyma Santos, 37
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Go Red for Women: Real Woman, Jen Rohe, 33
Go Red For Women
Go Red for Women advocates for the health of all women, funds lifesaving research and educates women across the United States and around the world but is committed to removing the unique barriers women face to experiencing better health and well-being.