The findings, based on responses from more than 1,570 people, were released on the eve of World Heart Day 2026 as part of Fortis Hospitals Mumbai’s Har Ghar Hero initiative. The survey highlighted limited awareness of publicly available AEDs, uncertainty about performing CPR and concerns about intervening during cardiac emergencies.
The results point to a gap between prior training and the ability to respond confidently when a medical emergency occurs. Thirty-six per cent of respondents said they would not be able to perform CPR correctly without assistance, despite having received some form of prior training. The findings highlight the need for regular refresher sessions and hands-on practice to ensure that training translates into effective action.
The survey also identified significant barriers to AED use. Forty-six per cent of respondents said they would not feel confident using an AED correctly even if the device were immediately available, while 23 per cent were completely unsure about stepping in at all. In addition, 68 per cent did not know the location of their nearest public AED, raising concerns about delays in accessing the equipment during a cardiac arrest, when every minute can influence the chances of survival.
Community preparedness emerged as another major concern. As many as 82 per cent of respondents did not believe their neighbourhood, workplace or housing society had enough people trained to respond to a medical emergency. At the same time, all respondents, representing 100 per cent of those surveyed, believed CPR and basic life support (BLS) training should be made compulsory in schools, colleges and workplaces.
The survey further exposed misconceptions about who can intervene during a cardiac emergency. Seventy-five per cent of respondents believed AEDs were meant only for doctors, while 32 per cent thought a medical licence was required even to attempt CPR. Overall, 75 per cent believed a medical degree was necessary to save a life during a cardiac emergency.
Fear and uncertainty surrounding legal consequences also featured in the findings. Thirty-two per cent of respondents were unaware of the legal protection available to Good Samaritans. Greater public awareness of these protections could help address hesitation among potential bystanders who might otherwise be reluctant to intervene.
Commenting on the findings and the Har Ghar Hero initiative, Dr S. Narayani, Regional Director-Operations, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai, said the results should serve as a call to action rather than merely a set of statistics.
“These findings are a call to action, not a statistic. Mumbai isn't short on people willing to help, it's short on the confidence that turns willingness into action. As a hospital network committed to the health of this city, we don't see that as someone else's problem to solve. Through our Har Ghar Hero initiative, our goal is simple: at least one trained responder in every household. That's why we're committing to train 2 lakh Mumbaikars in CPR by World CPR Day 2027; building a city where help is always closer than you think,” Dr Narayani said.
Emphasising the need to reinforce CPR skills through regular practice, Dr Sandeep Gore, Director – Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital Mulund, said the findings pointed to a lack of confidence despite previous training.
“More than a third of respondents who've received CPR training say they couldn't perform it correctly without assistance. This isn't a training gap, it's a confidence gap. In a cardiac arrest, hesitation costs lives. We need to move from 'CPR-trained' communities to 'CPR-ready' ones, where people have the skills, confidence and willingness to act when every second matters. That means revisiting and practising training regularly, so the response becomes instinct, not guesswork,” Dr Gore said.
Addressing misconceptions about who can intervene, Dr Amit Nabar, Director - Emergency Medicine & Community Medicine, S.L. Raheja Hospital – A Fortis Associate, Mumbai, highlighted the risks associated with the belief that medical qualifications are necessary to save a life.
“This is one of the most dangerous myths we encounter - that saving a life requires a medical degree. Three in four people think an AED is off-limits to anyone but a medic, and a third believe CPR requires a doctor's license. In reality, both are designed for exactly the opposite; it is for the person standing next to the patient in that first critical minute, long before any doctor arrives. This belief alone costs the society lives,” Dr Nabar said.
Dr Preetam Gaikwad, Head of Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, drew attention to the lack of confidence in using AEDs and limited awareness of their locations.
“Nearly half of respondents say they wouldn't feel confident using an AED, and more than two-thirds don't know where the nearest one is. For many, the device itself is unfamiliar. But an AED is built for exactly this moment: it is voice-assisted, guiding anyone through every step, so you don't need to be trained or medical to use it. The device isn't the barrier. Not knowing what it is, where it is, or that it will talk you through it, is. Every second lost to that hesitation reduces the chance of survival,” Dr Gaikwad said.
Highlighting the importance of preparedness at the community level, Dr Sudhir Gore, Head - Trauma & Emergency Services, Fortis Hospital Kalyan, said the findings reflected the risks associated with the bystander effect, in which people may expect someone else to intervene during an emergency.
“This is what we call the bystander effect in its most dangerous form. Eighty-two percent of people don't believe enough people around them are trained to respond in a medical emergency. Everyone assumes someone else will step up, so no one does, and the patient loses the only window that matters. The fix is simple - the more trained people there are in a room, a society or a workplace, the less any one person has to carry that responsibility alone,” Dr Sudhir Gore said.
The findings underline the need to make CPR and BLS training a regularly practised life skill rather than a one-time certification exercise. Improving public awareness of AED locations and explaining how these devices operate could also help communities respond more effectively during cardiac emergencies.
Through its Har Ghar Hero initiative, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai aims to strengthen awareness and preparedness around CPR, BLS and AED use, encouraging individuals and communities to become better equipped to respond during the critical first few minutes of a medical emergency. The commitment to train 2 lakh Mumbaikars in CPR by World CPR Day 2027 is part of the initiative's stated goal of having at least one trained responder in every household.
Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. Its healthcare operations primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics and day care specialty facilities. The company currently operates 36 healthcare facilities, including joint ventures and operations and management facilities, across 12 states and union territories. Its network comprises more than 6,000 operational beds, including O&M beds, and 400 diagnostic laboratories. Further information is available at www.fortishealthcare.com.
IHH Healthcare is a multinational healthcare provider working towards its aspiration to “Care. For Good.” Its brands include Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Operating across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India and Greater China, the organisation has a workforce of 70,000 and operates more than 140 healthcare facilities, including over 80 hospitals. Its services span primary, ambulatory and quaternary care, alongside diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, telehealth and home care. Through partnerships with stakeholders, IHH Healthcare aims to advance value-based care, build a sustainable healthcare ecosystem and work towards becoming the world's most trusted healthcare services network. Further information is available at www.ihhhealthcare.com.
About The Author
Comment List