Only about half of Americans say they’re capable of helping in a medical emergency Only 51% are ready to perform hands-only CPR Similar percentages say they can stop serious bleeding or help a choking victim WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Only about half of Americans feel prepared to help someone during a medical emergency, a new poll finds. Only 51% of Americans think they would be able to perform hands-only CPR to help someone who’s collapsed. Similarly, only 49% feel they could step in and staunch serious bleeding, while 56% said they can help someone who’s choking to death.
“Before emergency responders arrive, it’s up to us as the public to initiate care,” said Dr. Nicholas Kman , an emergency medicine physician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and a clinical professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. “For every minute that passes, the chance of survival drops, and if they do survive, there’s less chance of a good neurologic outcome,” Kman added in a university news release.
Hands-only CPR is essential to saving the life of someone who’s suffering from cardiac arrest. About 60% to 80% of people die before reaching the hospital, and bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates, doctors said. “We would love the public to learn how to do hands-only CPR and practice the skill of doing CPR every six weeks,” Kman said.
“Like with any skill, practice builds confidence. If we don’t practice it.