Would You Know How to Perform CPR If Needed? Survey Results Reveal Surprising Insights

We recently asked our Rewardia community a question that stopped many people in their tracks: "Would you know how to perform CPR if you needed to?"

It's not something most of us think about on a daily basis - but it's one of those skills that could make all the difference in an emergency.

More than 3,000 Australian residents responded, and the results were really interesting:

31% said, "I hope I would be able to do it."
24% said, "I am confident I could do it with help from the operator."
21% said, "Yes, I'd know what to do. I've done it before."
15% said, "I wouldn't be able to do it."
7% said, "Only if no one else was around."
2% preferred not to answer.

What Stood Out

Nearly one in five people have either been trained in CPR or have actually performed it in real life - that's pretty impressive. Several respondents mentioned learning CPR in school or through workplace first aid courses, which shows that public training programs are genuinely making a difference.

On the flip side, almost half of respondents said they either hope they could help or wouldn't feel confident doing it. That's a big gap - and it's one we can close with more accessible training.

How Does Australia Stack Up?

When someone collapses from cardiac arrest in public, would a stranger step in to help?

In Australia, the answer is often yes. Research shows that 40–55% of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR before paramedics arrive. In some states like Victoria and Western Australia, that figure jumps to nearly 60%.

That's a huge improvement over the past decade, thanks to:

More people getting trained in CPR
Greater availability of defibrillators (AEDs) in shopping centers, gyms, and other public places
Triple Zero (000) operators who can walk callers through CPR step-by-step during an emergency

And What About the Rest of the World?

Bystander CPR rates vary wildly depending on where you are:

Norway leads the pack with 70–80% of cardiac arrests receiving bystander CPR - one of the highest rates globally.

India, by contrast, sits at around 10%, mainly due to limited public awareness and access to training.

Why This Matters

When someone's heart stops, every second counts. Starting CPR immediately can double or even triple their chances of survival.

Our survey showed that while many Australians feel prepared to act, there's still a significant number who aren't sure what to do - or worry they might do it wrong. The truth is, doing something is almost always better than doing nothing.

The Good News?

CPR is a skill you can learn in just a few hours. Community organizations like St John Ambulance and the Red Cross offer courses regularly, and many workplaces provide free training.

You never know when you might need it - but if the moment comes, you'll be glad you learned.

Thomas Kirschner

Customer Support Team

Would You Know How to Perform CPR If Needed? Survey Results Reveal Surprising Insights

What Stood Out

How Does Australia Stack Up?

Why This Matters

The Good News?

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