There are several reasons why people have difficulty overcoming barriers to act. They might not know how to perform CPR or when to call 9-1-1. They may also be afraid of catching a disease or doing something wrong. The best ways to overcome these barriers to act are to 1) complete appropriate First Aid, CPR, AED, and Stop the Bleed training, and 2) be aware of the Good Samaritan Laws.
The Good Samaritan Laws legally protect rescuers who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or whom they believe to be, injured, ill, in danger, or otherwise incapacitated. The protection is intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist for fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death. These laws vary slightly from state to state, but generally, as long as the rescuer doesn't maliciously induce further injury, they will be protected from being sued.
While these Laws do not apply to healthcare providers during on-the-job duties, some extended protection is granted to professional rescuers when they act in a volunteer capacity outside of a clinical setting. Please review your state's Good Samaritan Laws to determine your specific protections and what aid is considered appropriate.1,2
1. Stewart, P. H., Agin, W. S., & Douglas, S. P. (2013). What does the law say to Good Samaritans?: A review of Good Samaritan statutes in 50 states and on US airlines. Chest,143(6), 1774–1783. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.12-2161 2. West B, Varacallo M. Good Samaritan Laws. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542176/
