Why We Hesitate to Perform CPR — and Why We Shouldn’t
If someone collapsed in front of you, would you step in and help?
Most of us would like to immediately say yes. But when an emergency actually happens, hesitation can take over:
-
What if I do something wrong?
-
Could I hurt them?
-
What if I get sued?
-
Do I have to give mouth-to-mouth?
When the person who needs help is a complete stranger, another layer of uncertainty appears. We may feel uncomfortable touching someone we don't know, exposing their chest, or performing forceful compressions on them.
Those feelings are completely understandable. However, during sudden cardiac arrest, doing nothing has far greater consequences than stepping forward to help.
Why Do Bystanders Hesitate?
The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that fear of legal consequences, fear of causing injury, lack of training confidence, and the assumption that someone else will help are among the top reasons people hesitate to perform CPR.
There are also social barriers that aren't often talked about.
Helping someone during cardiac arrest requires getting physically close. You may need to touch a stranger's chest, move their clothing, kneel over them, and perform forceful compressions. In almost any other circumstance, we are taught to respect personal space. During cardiac arrest, those boundaries must temporarily give way to something much more important: giving that person a chance to survive.
Did You Know? The American Heart Association notes that immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.
"What If I Get Sued for Trying to Help?"
Fear of legal consequences is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding bystander CPR.
During a recent webinar this exact topic was brought up and one of our training center partners shared insights on why this fear persists—and why the legal reality is much more reassuring. That is precisely why Good Samaritan Laws exist throughout the United States: to provide civil legal protection to individuals who voluntarily provide emergency assistance in good faith.
As our Training Center partner pointed out, the law explicitly recognizes the difference between someone genuinely trying to save a life during an emergency and someone intentionally or recklessly causing harm. For example, Ohio’s Good Samaritan Law provides civil liability protection for people administering emergency care at the scene of an emergency, except in cases involving willful or wanton misconduct.
Following the webinar, our partner passed along key breakdowns of how these legal protections apply directly to common bystander worries:
| Common Myth | The Legal Reality |
| "I'll get sued if I break a rib while doing CPR." | Good Samaritan laws protect laypeople providing good-faith emergency care from civil liability for accidental injury. |
| "I can be sued for sexual assault for touching a female victim's chest." | No credible U.S. cases exist. The actual legal risk lies in failing to help when a legal duty to act exists. |
| "I need certification to be protected by Good Samaritan laws." | In most states, Good Samaritan protections apply to any bystander acting in good faith during an emergency. |
If you encounter an emergency: Call 911, follow the dispatcher's instructions, and provide the help you are able to give.
The Myth of the "CPR Sexual Assault" Lawsuit
A specific fear that frequently surfaces—particularly when assisting women in cardiac arrest—is the dread of being accused of sexual assault or inappropriate touching for opening a shirt or placing hands on a female chest.
AHA-linked research confirms that this fear directly contributes to women receiving less bystander CPR in public than men. But what does the actual legal record show?
The short answer: The fear is real, but the lawsuits are fictional.
A review of decades of legal precedent and research reveals a clear picture:
-
Zero Credible U.S. Cases: There is no documented U.S. case where a Good Samaritan was successfully sued (or convicted) for sexual assault or inappropriate touching for performing CPR or applying AED pads.
-
What Lawsuits Actually Look Like: A major 30-year review of U.S. CPR lawsuits identified 170 cases. Of those, 167 were filed over failure to perform or delay in performing CPR. Only 3 alleged harm from providing CPR, and none involved layperson sexual assault claims.
-
Viral Internet Myths: Infamous stories online—such as the viral claim of a woman suing her rescuer named "Cassidy Boon," or a firefighter sued after a roller coaster rescue—have been thoroughly debunked as online satire and hoaxes.
-
International Misunderstandings: A widely cited Japanese incident involved a man questioned online after placing AED pads on a woman, but it resulted in no lawsuit or criminal charge. The man was offered a certificate of appreciation, which he declined.
-
The Real Legal Precedents: Famous Good Samaritan cases (like California's Torti v. Van Horn) involved allegations of injury caused by recklessly moving a victim in a car crash—not CPR, AED placement, or chest exposure.
Bottom line: The fear of a sexual assault lawsuit from lifesaving chest compressions is widely repeated, but legally unfounded. Statistically and legally, the far greater risk is delaying CPR when someone's life is on the line.
"But I'm Not CPR Certified..."
You don't need a medical degree—or even an active certification card—to save a life.
Nearly 6 in 10 American adults incorrectly believe that only someone with special training should perform Hands-Only CPR. That misconception costs precious time.
For a teen or adult who suddenly collapses, the American Heart Association recommends Hands-Only CPR for any lay responder:
-
Call 911.
-
Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
That's it. No mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths are required.
If the thought of giving rescue breaths to a stranger makes you uncomfortable, Hands-Only CPR allows you to begin chest compressions immediately while medical assistance is en route.
(Note: Hands-Only CPR is intended for a witnessed sudden collapse of a teen or adult. Children, infants, drowning victims, and respiratory emergencies still require CPR with rescue breaths—which is why formal CPR training remains invaluable.)
Helping a Stranger Shouldn't Feel Wrong
Sometimes people hesitate because of who needs help. Maybe the person is a different gender, older, or experiencing homelessness. Maybe their clothing needs to be removed to place AED pads.
During cardiac arrest, social awkwardness cannot take priority over a human life.
CPR is not inappropriate touching. It is emergency medical care.
A chest is a chest when it comes to CPR. A stranger is someone's mother, father, spouse, child, sibling, or best friend. In that critical moment, you may be the only person standing between them and the possibility of survival.
"What If I Hurt Them?"
This fear is extremely common. CPR is forceful. Effective chest compressions require strong pressure, and injuries like broken ribs can happen.
Consider the alternative. Someone in cardiac arrest is clinically dead—their heart has stopped pumping blood. Waiting out of fear of causing injury does not protect them; it guarantees a tragic outcome.
The goal isn't to perform CPR perfectly. The goal is to give them a chance.
Call 911, start compressions, and use an AED if one is available. Listen to the 911 dispatcher. Don't wait around for someone "more qualified" to show up.
Someone Has to Be the First Person to Act
One of the most vital lessons in emergency response isn't about compression rate or depth—it’s about willingness.
-
Someone has to kneel down first.
-
Someone has to dial 911.
-
Someone has to start compressions.
-
Someone has to run for the AED.
-
Someone has to decide that saving a life is more important than feeling uncomfortable.
You don't have to know the person. You don't have to be a doctor. You just have to be willing to act.
Every Moment Matters
CPR education isn't just about teaching physical mechanics—it's about building the confidence to use those skills under pressure. We need to talk openly about the fears that hold people back: fear of lawsuits, fear of hurting someone, fear of touching a stranger, and fear of being judged.
When sudden cardiac arrest strikes, hesitation costs lives.
Learn CPR. Find out where AEDs are located in your workplace and community. Understand your state's Good Samaritan protections. Share Hands-Only CPR with your friends and family.
Most importantly, if the day ever comes when someone collapses near you: Don't be afraid to step forward. You might give a complete stranger their best chance to return home to the people who love them.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Good Samaritan laws and their specific protections vary by state and jurisdiction. Consult your local statutes for specific legal parameters.
