"Public Awareness and Attitude on Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survey Results Announcement" was held by the Hong Kong College of Cardiology on 15 September 2020.
Hong Kong College of Cardiology (HKCC) commissioned the Centre for the Advancement of Social Sciences Research (CASR) of Hong Kong Baptist University to conduct a telephone survey from January to May 2020. The telephone survey targeted the Cantonese-speaking general public aged 18 to 70 to investigate their awareness and attitude on Sudden Cardiac Arrest. In total, 578 citizens responded to the survey. The survey results revealed that the general public were willing to assist the unconscious passers-by, but they knew little about first aid and had concern about hurting the patient and taking the responsibility. More than 80% of the respondents expressed their willingness on checking and helping a passer-by who passed out. More than 70% of the respondents had not received training on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). For those who received training on CPR, 62.3% of the respondents would apply CPR to help a passing out passer-by. "Not familiar with first aid", "First Aid Certificate has expired" and "Afraid of hurting the casualty" were the top 3 reasons for not willing to apply CPR to help a passing out passer-by.
HKCC advocated the government to make the "Good Samaritan Act" to exempt the rescuer from legal liability, so as to encourage more people to be willing to rescue the patient. In addition, increasing number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public places, improving citizens' first aid knowledge and skills and requiring schools to provide first aid training would also promote citizens to rescue people in need in society.
Details of the survey:
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(Source of photo: Hong Kong College of Cardiology)
(September 15, 2020)