The frequency and consequences of cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by bystanders on patients who are not in cardiac arrest.

Background: The American Heart Association encourages trained and untrained bystanders to perform, at a minimum, chest compressions on anyone who suddenly collapses. It is possible that people who are not in cardiac arrest may receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), from which the potential for injury is unknown.

Objectives: To determine the number of victims who received bystander CPR but were not in cardiac arrest and to identify any injuries resulting from receiving bystander CPR.