Do you remember the CPR bra? Back in 2024, it was everywhere – and for good reason. It was created by St John Ambulance as part of a huge campaign bringing awareness to the CPR gender gap. Their research had found that one in three people were afraid to give CPR to a woman in public because they were worried about touching breasts.

What is the CPR bra?

The original CPR bra was a green and yellow sports bra devised to help us all know where we stand when it comes to CPR and boobs. It bore the slogan ‘It’s OK to Save My Life’, as well as handy visual aids showing where to do chest compressions and where to cut the bra to apply defibrillator pads. And it was a huge success. It went instantly viral and raised a huge amount of awareness of how to give women CPR.

The only problem? The bra wasn’t available to actually buy. Images and videos of the bra were a fantastic learning tool, but we all wanted more. I remember at the time seeing women across social media asking if St John Ambulance would ever consider selling them. And today, we know that the answer is a resounding yes.

The CPR bra goes on-sale

St John Ambulance have teamed up with sports bra experts boobydoo to launch the CPR bra to the general public. If you’re a regular WR reader, you’ll know boobydoo already – you’ll find lots of the bras they’ve recommended to us during their brilliant fitting appointments in our running bra round-ups.

It’s available in two styles: the Action Sports Bra for A-C cups and the Control Sports Bra for C-E cups. They’re both non-wired and non-padded design, and made from moisture-wicking fabrics. I’m currently wearing the Control Sports Bra, having put it through its paces today at the gym. The material is lovely and soft, and it gives great support for bigger boobs for low- to medium-intensity exercise – ideal for gym workouts, yoga or just day-to-day life.

Why the CPR bra is just as important now as ever

While the 2024 campaign was successful, St John Ambulance have continued to do research on the CPR gender gap. Their findings show how important it is for us to keep talking about it. Their latest survey found that one in five men in the UK would hesitate to give CPR to a woman in public because they fear being filmed or posted on social media. While the internet is a great tool for education, it does come with its downsides.

The research also found that a third of men would hesitate to perform CPR on a woman in public due to concerns that they may be accused of inappropriate touching. This is the single biggest barrier to life-saving action, ahead of worries of accidentally hurting the person in need or of making the situation worse.

“Women are less likely to receive CPR in public and hesitation is costing lives,” says Dr Lynn Thomas, St John Ambulance’s medical director. “Every second counts in a cardiac arrest. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. It’s important we don’t shame anyone for hesitating, as these fears are real and understandable. But no one should ever feel afraid to try and save a life.”

“Education is key to building confidence, ” she continues. “The CPR Bra is our way of putting the power of first aid into more people’s hands. We hope to inspire more people to take action and give CPR to any person in need, whatever their gender.”

Restart a Heart Day

As well as being the launch date of the CPR bra, today is also Restart a Heart Day, where St John Ambulance and other health partners come together to teach CPR. The charity will be focusing on ensuring that as many people as possible know how to give vital first aid to a woman in cardiac arrest – and address any concerns with doing so.

Where can I buy the CPR bra?

Both styles of the CPR bra are priced at £35 and are available from boobydoo. 50% of the proceeds will go to supporting St John Ambulance’s life-saving work.