Lay rescuers play a pivotal role in the recognition and initial management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The provision of timely pre-arrival care by lay responders, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillator before emergency medical service arrival, is important link in the chain of survival and has been shown to improve outcomes from cardiac arrest. Although physicians are not directly involved in bystander response to cardiac arrest, they play a key role in emphasizing the importance of bystander interventions.