According to researches, about 75% of cardiac arrests are witnessed.
Only 20% of those people are being resuscitated.
In other words, only 16% of people who suffered cardiac arrest were given CPR (with questionable quality).

Recent research shows, that only one out of ten individuals will approach and help a wounded person in an accident of any kind. The reason is fear, and fear points to lack of knowledge.

The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the main reason for coronary disease and its fatal consequences. In USA alone, 1.5 million people per year get ill due to ACS. Slovenian epidemiological research information is only partially known. According to the Institute of Health Preservation, 7,940 patients were admitted into Slovenian hospitals in 1997; 29% of them were diagnosed with ACS. In the same year, 2,273 people died from the coronary disease, 53% of which died due to ACS. The most common consequence of ACS and other cardiovascular diseases is heart failure, where proper first aid procedures – especially “CPR” – are considered most important.

According to a research by the Prehospital Unit Maribor (information from emergency interventions between 2001 and 2004), 74% patients died of heart failure, but only 22% of them were reanimated. In other words, only 16% of the people with heart failure were given questionable quality first aid. The lack of knowledge and poor first aid skills of the general public are quickly becoming a global problem, mainly because of fear and lack of empathy regarding unfamiliar victims. When the victim of heart failure is a relative, statistics show more effort. However, the lack of proper knowledge is still a problem.

The necessary knowledge to help injured people in various situations is commonly obtained in first aid courses as a part of driving instructing. It contains theoretical analysis of situations, suitable approach in accidents, and a sequence of actions that must be taught. CPR skills must be firm and regularly reviewed and renewed. This is the only effective way to make people less frightened, thus preventing possible errors and easing the work of the professional team, which ultimately increases the chances of survival and successful rehabilitation of the injured.

The core of the problem is the mentality of your average laic, who does not act according to prescribed guidelines in emergency situations or does not act at all. Sociologists call this phenomena the “bystander effect” – in case of emergency, the bystanders become passive spectators in hope of someone else taking responsibility.