QUICK FACTS

Cardiac Arrest Survival Depends on Immediate Bystander CPR

• Survival rates decrease by approximately 10% for every minute CPR is not performed. When cardiac arrest occurs, every minute counts.
• In Dubuque County, Iowa, less than 25% of cardiac arrest patients receive bystander CPR, according to the CARES Database (2024), a      critical gap that puts lives at risk.

Emergency Response Time Is Not Fast Enough

• Neither emergency medical services (EMS) nor first responders (police and fire) can consistently reach the scene of an out-of-hospital      cardiac arrest within the 3-minute window needed to significantly improve survival.
• The average ambulance response time from a 911 call is approximately 7 minutes. 
• In rural  areas, response times often exceed 14 minutes. 

This delay makes immediate bystander CPR essential.

 
Most Cardiac Arrests Happen at Home

Nationally, 73.4% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home, where family members, coworkers, or bystanders—not first responders—are the first and only chance for survival.

Bystander CPR Saves Lives

• Immediate bystander CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.
• Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest occurring at home, at work, or in public settings.
• Hands-Only CPR is simple, fast, and can be performed without prior medical training.

Women Need CPR, Too

Women experiencing cardiac arrest are less likely to receive bystander CPR in public. Only 39% of women receive CPR from bystanders compared to 45% of men. Closing this gender gap through education and awareness is critical to improving survival outcomes for everyone.

                                                                                                                                                 Source: heart.org