Bystander CPR raises survival odds by more than twofold in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Overall survival to hospital discharge remains near one in ten cases. The sections below examine how rates vary by location, witness presence, and demographic factors.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022 CARES, bystander CPR rate was 42.3% for OHCA
- In the United States, approximately 356,461 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur annually, with only 10.4% surviving to hospital discharge overall
- For witnessed OHCA with bystander CPR and defibrillation within 3 minutes, survival to discharge is 49.5%
- AHA 2020 guidelines emphasize training for compression rate 100-120/min
- 70% of Americans untrained in CPR, only 40% willing to act
Cpr results show steady improvement, highlighting the need for ongoing training and timely intervention.
Related reading
01 · Category
Bystander Involvement25 stats
01
In 2022 CARES, bystander CPR rate was 42.3% for OHCA
02
U.S. bystander CPR for all OHCA: 39.8% in 2021, up from 35.7% in 2017
03
Public location OHCA bystander CPR: 51.2% vs 37.2% home
04
Witnessed OHCA bystander CPR: 55% rate nationally
05
Dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR: performed in 16.1% of eligible calls
06
Schools with CPR-trained staff: bystander CPR 3x higher survival
07
Barriers to bystander CPR: fear of harm (45%), no training (31%)
08
Hands-only CPR promotion increased bystander rates by 13% in trials
09
Asian Americans bystander CPR 28% vs 41% whites, disparity
10
Nighttime bystander CPR 20% lower (32% vs 52%)
11
Female bystanders perform CPR 2.3x more likely if dispatcher instructed
12
Sports events bystander CPR 72%
13
Airport bystander CPR 74%, AED 19%
14
Rural bystander CPR 35% vs 43% urban
15
COVID-19 bystander CPR dropped 10% to 30%
16
Overdose OHCA bystander CPR 45%, higher naloxone awareness
17
Pediatric bystander CPR 42%, higher if family member collapses
18
Pregnant bystander CPR hesitation higher, 25% rate
19
Nursing home bystander CPR 30%, staff training key
20
Bystander AED application 11.5% nationally
21
Compression-only CPR bystander rate 60% in promoted areas
22
Black neighborhoods bystander CPR 35.8% vs 42.1% white
23
Training increases bystander willingness by 50%
24
Video bystander CPR via app: 80% success rate in trials
25
Family bystander CPR 65% vs strangers 40%
Interpretation
Bystander Involvement Interpretation
While the human instinct to help is clearly present—especially in public spaces, sports events, and airports where rates can exceed 70%—it remains frustratingly hampered by fear, inequity, and circumstance, revealing that whether a life is saved often depends as much on where you collapse, who is nearby, and the color of your skin as it does on the medical emergency itself.
02 · Category
Epidemiology30 stats
01
In the United States, approximately 356,461 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur annually, with only 10.4% surviving to hospital discharge overall
02
Globally, cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death, affecting over 20 million people yearly with survival rates below 10% for OHCA
03
In Europe, the incidence of OHCA is 67-170 per 100,000 population annually, varying by country and urban/rural settings
04
Among U.S. adults, sudden cardiac arrest strikes about 1 in 1,000 yearly, with 90% occurring outside hospitals
05
In Japan, OHCA incidence reached 125,067 cases in 2021, with a one-month survival rate of 9.0%
06
Australian OHCA data shows 31,399 cases from 2017-2021, averaging 6,280 per year with urban areas comprising 75%
07
In Canada, 55,000 OHCA events occur yearly, affecting about 1 in 37 citizens
08
UK OHCA incidence is 55-113 per 100,000, with London reporting higher rates due to population density
09
In high-income countries, OHCA accounts for 50% of coronary heart disease deaths
10
U.S. pediatric OHCA incidence is 15,000 annually, mostly non-shockable rhythms
11
OHCA in public locations occurs at 2.3 times higher rate than at home, per U.S. data
12
Witnessed OHCA comprises 35-50% of cases, improving prognosis significantly
13
Ventricular fibrillation as initial rhythm in 25% of OHCA cases
14
OHCA disproportionately affects males (65%) and those over 65 (60%)
15
In Asia, OHCA survival varies from 2.5% in India to 8.5% in South Korea
16
U.S. OHCA with AED use before EMS: 11.5% of cases
17
EMS-assessed OHCA treated: 70% receive CPR
18
Low-flow time average 11 minutes for OHCA
19
OHCA in nursing homes: 20% of total U.S. cases
20
Shockable rhythms decline with age, from 40% in <50s to 15% in >80s
21
OHCA during sports: 1 in 50,000 participant hours
22
Airport OHCA incidence: 0.9 per million passengers
23
OHCA in schools: rare, 0.54 per 100,000 students/year
24
Pregnancy-related OHCA: 1 in 30,000 deliveries
25
Drug overdose OHCA rose 35% from 2015-2020 in U.S.
26
COVID-19 increased OHCA by 19% with lower bystander CPR
27
Rural OHCA incidence 20% lower than urban but survival 30% worse
28
OHCA in minorities: higher incidence, lower survival (7.3% vs 11.2% white)
29
Nighttime OHCA (midnight-6am): 25% lower bystander CPR
30
EMS response time average 7 minutes for OHCA
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
It's a grim global math problem where your odds are embarrassingly low, but the clearest path to solving it is alarmingly simple: more of us need to know how and be willing to jump in with immediate CPR and an AED.
03 · Category
Survival Rates28 stats
01
For witnessed OHCA with bystander CPR and defibrillation within 3 minutes, survival to discharge is 49.5%
02
U.S. overall OHCA survival to hospital discharge: 10.4% in 2022 per CARES
03
Bystander CPR alone increases survival odds by 2.3 times compared to no CPR
04
Shockable rhythm OHCA survival: 30% with bystander intervention
05
In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) survival: 25.3% to discharge
06
Dispatcher-assisted CPR increases survival by 58% in OHCA
07
AED use by bystanders boosts survival to 70% if within 3 minutes
08
Pediatric OHCA survival: 9.1% overall, 27% for shockable rhythms
09
Utstein comparator group survival: 39% for bystander-witnessed shockable OHCA
10
Sweden OHCA survival rose from 5% in 1992 to 11% in 2020
11
EMS-treated OHCA survival: 9.1% in U.S. 2022
12
High-quality CPR doubles survival chances in IHCA
13
1-minute delay in CPR reduces survival by 7-10% per delay minute
14
Public AED + CPR survival: 62% in Japan airports
15
Black patients OHCA survival 5.9% vs 10.6% white, racial disparity
16
Good neurological outcome (CPC 1-2): 8.1% for OHCA in 2022 CARES
17
Compressible torso CPR improves survival by 20% over standard
18
Therapeutic hypothermia post-OHCA: 49% good neuro outcome vs 30% control
19
ECPR for refractory OHCA: 30% survival in select centers
20
Bystander AED + CPR in sports: 44% survival
21
Nighttime OHCA survival 50% lower than daytime
22
Rural OHCA survival 6.1% vs 10.5% urban
23
Pregnant OHCA survival 28% with PM of CPR
24
Overdose OHCA survival 12.4% with naloxone + CPR
25
COVID-era OHCA survival dropped to 7.5% from 9.1%
26
IHCA with immediate defibrillation: 35% survival
27
Prolonged CPR (>30 min) survival 4% but 15% good outcome if ROSC
28
Dispatcher CPR survival OR 1.58 (95% CI 1.22-2.04)
Interpretation
Survival Rates Interpretation
If we all knew CPR and acted without hesitation, survival could feel like a coin flip instead of the grim lottery it currently resembles.
More related reading
04 · Category
Techniques and Guidelines26 stats
01
AHA 2020 guidelines emphasize training for compression rate 100-120/min
02
Chest compression depth guideline: 5-6 cm (2-2.4 inches) for adults
03
Compression-ventilation ratio 30:2 for untrained bystanders per AHA
04
Hands-only CPR recommended for untrained adults over 8 years
05
Pediatric CPR: 15:2 ratio if 2 rescuers, depth 1/3 chest
06
Allow full chest recoil between compressions, no leaning >10kg
07
Initial shock preferred if shockable rhythm per 2020 ILCOR
08
Head-tilt chin-lift for airway unless trauma
09
Minimize interruptions <10 seconds total pre-shock
10
Rate 100-120 compressions/min, recoil visualized
11
Pregnancy CPR: manual LUD displacement after 20 weeks
12
Opioid overdose: ventilate first, naloxone + CPR
13
Dispatcher instructions: emphasize chest compressions first
14
Real-time feedback devices improve quality 30%, guideline endorsed
15
ECPR considered for witnessed refractory VF
16
Temperature management 32-36C post-ROSC 24h
17
Avoid routine epinephrine >20min in non-shockable
18
Double sequential defibrillation not recommended routinely
19
Ultrasound during CPR if no pause >10s
20
Pediatric AED pads if >8yo or >25kg
21
Reversible causes (Hs & Ts) assessment every 2 cycles
22
Compression fraction >80% target for high-quality CPR
23
Jaw thrust for suspected trauma airway
24
IV/IO access during CPR, epi q3-5min
25
Post-arrest: 12-lead ECG within 10min ROSC
26
Team dynamics: closed-loop communication, role assignment
Interpretation
Techniques and Guidelines Interpretation
While the American Heart Association’s 2020 guidelines offer a dizzying array of precise numbers, from the exact tilt of a chin to the kilogram of pressure you shouldn't lean, the entire life-saving enterprise elegantly boils down to this: pump the heart smartly and don’t stop, unless you're briefly saving a life in some other very specific and measured way.
05 · Category
Training and Certification27 stats
01
70% of Americans untrained in CPR, only 40% willing to act
02
Red Cross trains 2.2 million in CPR annually worldwide
03
U.S. high school CPR training mandated in 38 states as of 2023
04
AHA CPR courses: 12 million trained yearly
05
Online CPR training completion rate 85%, hands-on 95%
06
Layperson CPR retention 80% at 6 months, 50% at 2 years
07
Workplace CPR training: 55% of large firms
08
Pediatric CPR training increases adult confidence by 30%
09
Dispatcher training improves bystander CPR quality 40%
10
AED training with CPR boosts usage 3-fold
11
Annual CPR recertification: 70% compliance in healthcare
12
Community CPR training programs increase local bystander rates 15%
13
Virtual reality CPR training: 90% skill acquisition vs 75% traditional
14
Nursing staff CPR competency 92% post-training
15
School CPR programs train 1 in 4 students yearly
16
EMS CPR quality training reduces pauses 50%
17
Global CPR training gap: 2.8 billion untrained adults
18
Hands-only CPR video training: 95% willing to perform
19
Racial disparities in training access: 20% lower in minorities
20
Post-COVID online CPR surged 300%
21
Athlete CPR training: 85% of NCAA programs
22
Airport staff AED/CPR trained 100% mandated
23
Rural training programs increase certification 25%
24
CPR instructor ratio 1:12 max per AHA guidelines
25
Cost of CPR class: $80-110 average U.S.
26
BLS certification renewal every 2 years, 90% pass rate
27
High-performance CPR teams trained in 40% U.S. hospitals
Interpretation
Training and Certification Interpretation
Despite a world of people willing to help, we're collectively stuck in a cycle of forgetting and relearning the basics, with our best chance being a blend of mandated training, innovative technology, and community resolve to close the gap between good intentions and life-saving actions.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Cpr Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpr-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Cpr Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cpr-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Cpr Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cpr-statistics.
Sources & references
18 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level