About Us
First aid training told us to bare the chest — but it didn't always explain what that really meant.
Bras, breasts and the human factors around exposing a woman's chest weren't being talked about enough.
Bra Off Defib On was created to change that.
How BODO Began
Bra Off Defib On was created in 2023 after conversations amongst first aid trainers highlighted that women experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were at a disadvantage – yet very little was being said about the practical and social barriers involved in using a defibrillator on a woman.
As first aid trainers, we had been talking about bras, breasts and exposing the chest in our own training for some time. But we quickly realised these conversations were not happening consistently across first aid training, and there was very little clear guidance available to support trainers in teaching the subject.
Defibrillators tell rescuers to bare the chest, but it had largely been assumed that everybody understood exactly what that meant.
In reality, many people were completing first aid training without ever having discussed what to do if someone experiencing a cardiac arrest was wearing a bra. Why might it need to be removed or moved? How does it affect correct defibrillator pad placement? And what does "bare the chest" actually mean in practice?
We also recognised that this wasn't only about knowing how to use a defibrillator. There were important human factors involved too – embarrassment, dignity, uncertainty around consent, fear of exposing or touching someone's chest, and the hesitation that can come from simply not knowing what to do.
These are conversations that need to happen during first aid training, not for the first time during a cardiac arrest.
Bra Off Defib On was created to start those conversations, challenge the hesitation and give people the knowledge and confidence to act.
Our Mission
Our mission is to educate, empower and influence so that hesitation in a cardiac emergency never costs a life. Every second matters and confidence saves lives.
We envision a future where defibrillator use on women is normalised, understood and never questioned – a future where people act without fear or embarrassment, knowing that saving a life always comes first.
Correct adult defibrillator pad placement as recommended by Resuscitation Council UK (2025)
One pad on the upper right chest, just below the clavicle (collarbone) and the other on the left side of the body, directly below the armpit on the mid-axillary line
What Does The Research Say?
Defibrillator pads must be placed directly onto bare skin and in the correct position to allow the electrical current to travel effectively through the heart.
In 2025, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) reviewed the available evidence regarding bras, underwire and defibrillation.
The review found no evidence that metal within an underwire bra significantly impacts the delivery of a defibrillation shock.
The priority is ensuring pads are positioned correctly on bare skin and that nothing delays life-saving treatment.
Resuscitation Council UK guidance states that rescuers should prioritise correct pad placement and contact with bare skin. If this can be achieved without removing the bra, it may remain in place. If the bra interferes with correct pad placement, it should be removed.
Our Trustees
Mia Neupauerova
Founder, Neupauer Training
“It’s important we open up conversations some people might be uncomfortable even asking about. Especially when it comes to saving lives.”
Marc Harrold
Owner, Total First Aid Solutions
“As a First Aid & Pre Hospital Care Trainer and active CFR, I have seen on occasion the hesitancy that some people have in exposing female patients, who are in cardiac arrest. These delays in starting and even not stating CPR or applying AED pads, can lead to very poor outcomes. We need to open the conversation and change attitudes to improve the survival rates.”
Heather Kingdon
Owner, Assist First Aid Training
“Those first few minutes are critical and females have a significant disadvantage than males – purely due to the presence of breasts. All people, whether they have breasts or not, should have awareness of this.”
Kas Fletcher
Resuscitation & Pre-hospital Emergency Care Educator
I had the great honour of spending many years working for Professor Douglas Chamberlain on cardiac arrest research and data analysis. He often said that “women get a raw deal in resuscitation”
Very proud to continue his work, particularly in addressing the inequalities women face in cardiac arrest. Currently a pre-hospital care trainer and active SECAmb Community First Responder.
Meet Our Founder - Jenny Legg
Bra Off Defib On was founded in 2023 by Jenny Legg, an experienced first aid trainer and owner of Training Legs First Aid.
Through years of training, Jenny recognised that conversations around bras, breasts and exposing a woman's chest during defibrillator use weren't happening consistently – and that uncertainty could lead to hesitation in an emergency.
Jenny created BODO to change that. Today, she works alongside the BODO team and its growing Ambassador community to educate, empower and influence, helping make these conversations a normal part of first aid training and giving people the confidence to act when it matters.
Administrator - Carrie McEwan
Treasurer - Hilary Harrold
Marketing - Molly Mea Hanson
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