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sudden cardiac arrest

Good Samaritan Laws and Bystander CPR

There are many reasons people give when asked why they’re hesitant to perform CPR on a stranger. These range from causing additional injury to exposing someone in public. However, the benefits far outweigh any potential risks.

More than 325,000 people go into cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and immediate CPR significantly lowers the risk of death, brain damage, or other lasting injury.

Read More: Why Don’t Bystanders Perform CPR?

One of the most common reasons people don’t provide CPR in public is the fear of legal prosecution should they cause further injury. However, there are legal protections against this kind of prosecution.

What Are Good Samaritan Laws?

Good Samaritan laws protect bystanders who perform CPR
photo credit: @huy-phan-316220 accessed 11/30/22 via CC0

Every state in the country has a “Good Samaritan” law of some kind. The specifics vary, but in general, these laws provide legal protection to people who provide reasonable assistance for someone who is experiencing an injury or emergency.

In short, if you are providing CPR to the best of your knowledge and ability, the likelihood that you will be held legally responsible for any additional injury is minimal. (If you have any questions about a specific situation or case, please contact an attorney.)

If you encounter someone who is in cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and provide help to the best of your ability. A CPR training course can help you be more prepared should you find yourself in this situation. Sign up for an in-person, virtual, or on-demand CPR course today!

Register for a CPR Course

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.

Why Every Business Should Have an AED Onsite

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and without warning, and its effects are immediate. If a patient does not immediately receive treatment, sudden cardiac arrest results in significant disability or death. This is why it’s so important for businesses of all types and sizes to have an Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED onsite and in good working condition – and for employees and the public to have the ability and knowledge to use it.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A sudden cardiac arrest is triggered by a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. This produces abnormal heart rhythms and disrupts the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body, resulting in a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.

According to the FDA, the probability of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent for every minute that a person is in sudden cardiac arrest. It’s vitally important to equip professionals and bystanders alike with the ability and tools they need to perform lifesaving interventions.

an aed onsite at a business
Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

Why Businesses Need an AED Onsite

An AED is a critical step in the out-of-hospital chain of survival. AEDs deliver an electrical shock, called defibrillation, that restores the heart to its normal rhythm and restarts blood flow. Having an AED onsite is one of the best and easiest ways to protect employees and the public from the devastation of sudden cardiac arrest.

Register for an AED Training Course

AEDs are fairly easy to use, but training is recommended in order to deliver defibrillation safely and quickly. HeartCert offers an all-in-one CPR/AED/first aid training course. Learn these lifesaving skills in one convenient session! In-person, hybrid, and virtual CPR training options are available.

HeartCert also sells AEDs! Visit our shop page and contact us with any questions.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.