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A VSB-TUO Student Designs a Bra for First Aid Training. Helping Save Lives

26. 10. 2026 News
Recent studies have shown that women have a lower chance of survival during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). One of the reasons is the hesitation of bystanders when providing first aid. Many people are unsure whether they should remove a woman’s bra, even though it may interfere with the correct performance of CPR.

To address this issue, the Czech Red Cross has introduced female training mannequins into its first aid courses. A custom-made bra for these mannequins was designed by Karolina Kružíková, a student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at VSB-TUO. Her work has helped create a more realistic training aid while also raising awareness about the importance of proper first aid procedures.

The mannequin was first scanned using a 3D scanner, resulting in a digital model that served as the basis for the bra design. “3D scanning was crucial for the project. Of course, it would have been possible to measure the mannequin with a tailor’s tape measure, but that would not capture all the details and proportions,” explains Karolina Kružíková. The scanner was provided by Lenka Čepová from the Department of Machining, Assembly and Engineering Metrology. Based on the 3D model, a bra design was created to precisely match the mannequin’s proportions. The final version was then produced at the PROTOLAB Centre using 3D printing.

“Consider the production of a conventional bra. The underwire would have to be manufactured and the entire model sewn together, which would be much more time-consuming. In addition, 3D printing is an ideal technology for creating prototypes,” says the student. The result is a practical training aid that allows first aid course participants to practise how to remove a bra quickly and correctly during CPR. “I was surprised myself to learn that women have a lower chance of survival during resuscitation. I understand that many people feel embarrassed. However, I believe that training with female mannequins will help people realize that removing a bra in such a situation is necessary,” she adds.

Karolina’s collaboration with the Czech Red Cross began thanks to her participation in the Maker Faire festival. “I was approached by a representative of the Czech Red Cross regional branch in Ostrava. They had seen the prototype from my bachelor’s thesis and thought that something similar, especially a version that could be used repeatedly, would be useful for training purposes,”
she recalls.

Drawing on the experience gained from her bachelor’s thesis, Karolina adapted the original concept to meet the needs of the project. The new version of the bra is divided into two parts connected by a cord, allowing it to be cut during training exercises and then reused. Looking ahead, Karolina hopes to continue working on projects that combine technology with social impact. “It makes sense to me. When choosing both my bachelor’s and master’s thesis topics, I looked for projects with a broader social dimension. I hope similar opportunities will find me in the future as well,” concludes Karolina Kružíková.

Text: Barbora Urbanovská
Photo: Karolina Kružíková archive