Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Saving Lives

Women’s History Month is a time to recognise and celebrate the contributions of women throughout history. At Defib Supplies, we highlight the incredible impact women have had in emergency medicine, defibrillation, and cardiac care. Not only have they pioneered life-saving techniques, but they have also advocated for improved heart health. Their efforts continue to ensure that more lives are saved every day.

Women Pioneers in Cardiac Care

Many women have paved the way in cardiac research and emergency response. As a result, their work has revolutionised how we treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Some of the most notable women in the field include:

• Dr. Helen Taussig (1898–1986) – A founder of paediatric cardiology, she developed treatments that significantly improved survival rates for infants with congenital heart defects.
• Dr. Maude Abbott (1869–1940) – A Canadian physician who made ground breaking contributions to understanding heart disease and congenital heart conditions, helping to shape modern cardiac care.
• Dr. Nanette Wenger – She advanced research into heart disease in women, demonstrating how symptoms and treatments differ between men and women. Her work has led to better treatment approaches for women worldwide.

These inspirational idols, shaped our understanding of heart health and improved responses to cardiac emergencies. Consequently, their work has saved countless lives.

Women in Emergency Response

Women have always led in emergency response and pre-hospital care, whether as paramedics, nurses, or community first responders. Because of their dedication to saving lives, survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest and other emergencies have improved significantly.

At Defib Supplies, we work with businesses, community groups, and sports teams to ensure access to defibrillators and raise awareness of heart health. In particular, many of our supported campaigns, such as Bra Off, Defib On, challenge misconceptions and encourage bystanders to take life-saving action.

Defibrillation and Women’s Heart Health

A gender gap exists in cardiac arrest survival rates. One of the main reasons for this is hesitation in using defibrillators on women. Research shows that bystanders are less likely to perform CPR or use an AED on a woman due to concerns about exposing the chest. Unfortunately, this hesitation costs lives.

Initiatives like Bra Off, Defib On help break down these barriers. Since women deserve the same chance of survival as men, increasing public education is crucial. By doing so, we can empower more people to act when every second counts.

Celebrating Women in Our Communities

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women making a difference in cardiac care today. Whether they are first responders, nurses, campaigners, or community heroes, their work is saving lives every day.

Take a moment to recognise the women in your community who advocate for better heart health and emergency response. If you know a woman making an impact, share her story. By doing so, you can help inspire others to get involved.

How You Can Get Involved

• Learn CPR and AED use – Take a training course to gain the confidence to save a life.
• Support awareness campaigns – Follow and share initiatives that promote heart health and defibrillator accessibility. The more people know, the better prepared they will be.
• Encourage equal emergency response – Spread awareness about the importance of defibrillating women without hesitation. This can help reduce unnecessary delays in treatment.

Women’s contributions to cardiac care and emergency medicine should be recognised all year round. Because of their dedication, countless lives have been saved. At Defib Supplies, we proudly support life-saving initiatives and continue advocating for heart-safe communities.