Sam2:The beis yoseph says its reffering to saving life mamish. The main mitzvah being talmud torah but mitzvos in general.
For women i think it was ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? Go ask a rov lemaisa if you should save a man before a woman all else being equal and you will get the same answer. If you dont, I would like to know who.