GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hands Only Cpr Statistics

Hands-Only CPR doubles survival chances, vital for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

About 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home

Statistic 2

Performing Hands-Only CPR can double or triple a victim's chances of survival

Statistic 3

Only 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive bystander CPR

Statistic 4

Immediate CPR can double or even triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest

Statistic 5

About 89% of sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting

Statistic 6

The average response time for emergency services is around 8-10 minutes, but brain death can occur within 4-6 minutes without oxygen

Statistic 7

In the US, about 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually

Statistic 8

The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with bystander CPR is approximately 10%, but can increase to 45% with timely defibrillation

Statistic 9

Hands-Only CPR has a higher likelihood of being performed by bystanders compared to conventional CPR with breaths

Statistic 10

Approximately 70% of cardiac arrests occur in homes, where bystander CPR is less frequently performed, leading to lower survival rates

Statistic 11

Hands-Only CPR lasts approximately 2 minutes when performed continuously, maintaining blood flow to vital organs

Statistic 12

The success of Hands-Only CPR decreases significantly when performed after more than 10 minutes of cardiac arrest, emphasizing the need for rapid response

Statistic 13

Cardiac arrest causes 15% of all deaths worldwide, making immediate CPR critical

Statistic 14

Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) along with Hands-Only CPR can increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by up to 70%

Statistic 15

Approximately 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in locations with no AED nearby, highlighting the need for immediate CPR

Statistic 16

The American Heart Association reports that almost 70% of cardiac arrests occur in the evening or night, times when immediate assistance is critical

Statistic 17

Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as traditional CPR with breaths for adult sudden cardiac arrests, according to multiple clinical studies

Statistic 18

An estimated 90% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital, emphasizing the importance of early intervention

Statistic 19

Survival rates decrease by approximately 10% with every minute delay in starting CPR, underscoring the urgency of immediate action

Statistic 20

The likelihood of successfully resuscitating a cardiac arrest victim diminishes rapidly without CPR, with chances dropping by 10% with each passing minute

Statistic 21

About 75% of cardiac arrests happen at a person’s own home, making the availability of immediate CPR skills critical for survival

Statistic 22

Hands-Only CPR is recommended for untrained bystanders due to its simplicity and effectiveness

Statistic 23

Trained laypersons often hesitate to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which increases the importance of Hands-Only CPR

Statistic 24

The American Heart Association recommends Hands-Only CPR for victims of sudden collapse who are unresponsive and not breathing normally

Statistic 25

Children under age 8 should receive traditional CPR with breaths, but adults are recommended Hands-Only CPR if untrained

Statistic 26

In 2020, Hands-Only CPR campaigns contributed to an increase in bystander CPR rates by approximately 20% in certain regions

Statistic 27

Hands-Only CPR can be effectively performed by people of all ages, including teenagers and seniors, with minimal training

Statistic 28

Regular CPR training increases the likelihood that bystanders will perform Hands-Only CPR in emergencies, with some studies showing a 25-30% increase after training sessions

Statistic 29

Advocates estimate that if all Americans learned CPR, up to 100,000 more lives could be saved annually

Statistic 30

Teaching CPR in schools has been shown to double the likelihood of bystander intervention during a cardiac emergency

Statistic 31

Communities with high rates of CPR training tend to have quicker emergency responses and higher survival rates, especially when Hands-Only CPR is performed promptly

Statistic 32

A study showed that 85% of people are willing to perform Hands-Only CPR if they are confident in their skills, which underscores the importance of public training initiatives

Statistic 33

People trained in CPR are more likely to respond during emergencies involving infants and children, where traditional CPR is often recommended, but Hands-Only CPR can be life-saving in emergencies for adults

Statistic 34

The importance of Hands-Only CPR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it reduces the risk of transmission compared to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Statistic 35

Communities with widespread CPR training programs see higher rates of bystander intervention, including Hands-Only CPR

Statistic 36

The cost of community CPR training programs often offsets by increased survival rates and reduced long-term health costs related to cardiac arrest

Statistic 37

The use of CPR feedback devices during training improves skill retention and correct technique, making Hands-Only CPR more effective in real emergencies

Statistic 38

Approximately 60% of the population reports feeling confident in performing Hands-Only CPR after completing a training course, but less than 50% have ever attempted it, highlighting training gaps

Statistic 39

Hands-Only CPR training sessions typically take about 30 minutes to complete and are often free or low-cost in many community programs, encouraging widespread participation

Statistic 40

The emotional trauma experienced by witnesses who perform CPR can be significant but is generally reduced with proper training and education, leading to higher intervention rates

Statistic 41

The expansion of public CPR training programs, including Hands-Only CPR, is associated with up to a 25% increase in survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

Statistic 42

The use of visual and audio prompts during CPR training improves skill acquisition and confidence in performing Hands-Only CPR, leading to higher community response rates

Statistic 43

The average cost of a community CPR training session is around $20 to $50, but the economic benefit in lives saved far outweighs the expenditure

Slide 1 of 43

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Performing Hands-Only CPR can double or triple a victim's chances of survival
About 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home
Only 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive bystander CPR
Immediate CPR can double or even triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest
About 89% of sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting
The average response time for emergency services is around 8-10 minutes, but brain death can occur within 4-6 minutes without oxygen
Hands-Only CPR is recommended for untrained bystanders due to its simplicity and effectiveness
In the US, about 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually
The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with bystander CPR is approximately 10%, but can increase to 45% with timely defibrillation
Hands-Only CPR has a higher likelihood of being performed by bystanders compared to conventional CPR with breaths
Trained laypersons often hesitate to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which increases the importance of Hands-Only CPR
The American Heart Association recommends Hands-Only CPR for victims of sudden collapse who are unresponsive and not breathing normally
Approximately 70% of cardiac arrests occur in homes, where bystander CPR is less frequently performed, leading to lower survival rates

Did you know that performing Hands-Only CPR can double or even triple a heart attack victim’s chances of survival, yet only about 46% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive this life-saving aid from bystanders?

Demographic and Regional Trends

About 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home

Demographic and Regional Trends Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of cardiac arrests striking at home, it underscores that lifesaving skills like Hands-Only CPR aren’t just for first responders, but for every family member ready to turn their living room into a life-saving station.

Emergency Response and Survival Rates

Performing Hands-Only CPR can double or triple a victim's chances of survival
Only 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive bystander CPR
Immediate CPR can double or even triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest
About 89% of sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting
The average response time for emergency services is around 8-10 minutes, but brain death can occur within 4-6 minutes without oxygen
In the US, about 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually
The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with bystander CPR is approximately 10%, but can increase to 45% with timely defibrillation
Hands-Only CPR has a higher likelihood of being performed by bystanders compared to conventional CPR with breaths
Approximately 70% of cardiac arrests occur in homes, where bystander CPR is less frequently performed, leading to lower survival rates
Hands-Only CPR lasts approximately 2 minutes when performed continuously, maintaining blood flow to vital organs
The success of Hands-Only CPR decreases significantly when performed after more than 10 minutes of cardiac arrest, emphasizing the need for rapid response
Cardiac arrest causes 15% of all deaths worldwide, making immediate CPR critical
Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) along with Hands-Only CPR can increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by up to 70%
Approximately 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in locations with no AED nearby, highlighting the need for immediate CPR
The American Heart Association reports that almost 70% of cardiac arrests occur in the evening or night, times when immediate assistance is critical
Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as traditional CPR with breaths for adult sudden cardiac arrests, according to multiple clinical studies
An estimated 90% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital, emphasizing the importance of early intervention
Survival rates decrease by approximately 10% with every minute delay in starting CPR, underscoring the urgency of immediate action
The likelihood of successfully resuscitating a cardiac arrest victim diminishes rapidly without CPR, with chances dropping by 10% with each passing minute
About 75% of cardiac arrests happen at a person’s own home, making the availability of immediate CPR skills critical for survival

Emergency Response and Survival Rates Interpretation

With 89% of cardiac arrests occurring outside hospitals and only 46% receiving bystander CPR, it's clear that swift Hands-Only CPR—more likely to be performed than traditional methods—can dramatically boost survival chances, especially when integrated with AED use and delivered within the critical 4-6 minute window before brain death, emphasizing that in the battle against sudden cardiac arrest, timing truly is life.

Public Awareness and Education

Hands-Only CPR is recommended for untrained bystanders due to its simplicity and effectiveness
Trained laypersons often hesitate to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which increases the importance of Hands-Only CPR
The American Heart Association recommends Hands-Only CPR for victims of sudden collapse who are unresponsive and not breathing normally
Children under age 8 should receive traditional CPR with breaths, but adults are recommended Hands-Only CPR if untrained
In 2020, Hands-Only CPR campaigns contributed to an increase in bystander CPR rates by approximately 20% in certain regions
Hands-Only CPR can be effectively performed by people of all ages, including teenagers and seniors, with minimal training
Regular CPR training increases the likelihood that bystanders will perform Hands-Only CPR in emergencies, with some studies showing a 25-30% increase after training sessions
Advocates estimate that if all Americans learned CPR, up to 100,000 more lives could be saved annually
Teaching CPR in schools has been shown to double the likelihood of bystander intervention during a cardiac emergency
Communities with high rates of CPR training tend to have quicker emergency responses and higher survival rates, especially when Hands-Only CPR is performed promptly
A study showed that 85% of people are willing to perform Hands-Only CPR if they are confident in their skills, which underscores the importance of public training initiatives
People trained in CPR are more likely to respond during emergencies involving infants and children, where traditional CPR is often recommended, but Hands-Only CPR can be life-saving in emergencies for adults
The importance of Hands-Only CPR has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it reduces the risk of transmission compared to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Public Awareness and Education Interpretation

Hands-Only CPR, with its simplicity and proven effectiveness, has become a vital public tool—boosting bystander intervention rates by up to 20%, saving potentially 100,000 lives annually if universally adopted, and proving that when it comes to cardiac emergencies, a confident push can be worth a thousand breaths.

Training and Community Programs

Communities with widespread CPR training programs see higher rates of bystander intervention, including Hands-Only CPR
The cost of community CPR training programs often offsets by increased survival rates and reduced long-term health costs related to cardiac arrest
The use of CPR feedback devices during training improves skill retention and correct technique, making Hands-Only CPR more effective in real emergencies
Approximately 60% of the population reports feeling confident in performing Hands-Only CPR after completing a training course, but less than 50% have ever attempted it, highlighting training gaps
Hands-Only CPR training sessions typically take about 30 minutes to complete and are often free or low-cost in many community programs, encouraging widespread participation
The emotional trauma experienced by witnesses who perform CPR can be significant but is generally reduced with proper training and education, leading to higher intervention rates
The expansion of public CPR training programs, including Hands-Only CPR, is associated with up to a 25% increase in survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests
The use of visual and audio prompts during CPR training improves skill acquisition and confidence in performing Hands-Only CPR, leading to higher community response rates
The average cost of a community CPR training session is around $20 to $50, but the economic benefit in lives saved far outweighs the expenditure

Training and Community Programs Interpretation

Widespread community CPR training not only boosts survival rates by up to 25%, making the modest $20–$50 investment a life-saving bargain, but also turns bystanders from hesitant bystanders into confident responders—highlighting that when every minute counts, preparedness truly pays off.