The South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has launched a campaign in Sittingbourne, Kent, in February 2026 to encourage more people to act when someone collapses from an out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest. The project addresses a gap identified in recent reporting: women are 27% less likely than men to receive bystander CPR during a public cardiac arrest.
Research and campaign reporting, including the British Heart Foundation and subsequent coverage, show bystanders can hesitate to help women because of concerns about touching a woman’s chest or removing clothing. A SECAmb spokesperson said: “Regardless of gender, when it comes to CPR, every ‘body’ is the same. The technique is identical, and quick action is the most important part of saving a life.”
The campaign comes as Swale faces a shortage of GPs, which has increased pressure on local services and left residents more reliant on emergency response and community first responders. To support response capacity, SECAmb has begun receiving the first wave of 92 new MAN box‑body ambulances, with deliveries expected through to the end of March 2026.
Local volunteers and community first responders will run free pop‑up training sessions at community centres and on Sittingbourne High Street throughout February. The sessions will teach chest compressions (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and will aim to build confidence so bystanders do not hesitate to act.
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