A person who performs CPR and/or uses a defibrillator on someone in cardiac arrest. A rescuer may be a bystander with no medical training, a trained first aider, a community first responder, or a healthcare professional. For cardiac arrest survivors, the identity of their rescuer — often a stranger, but sometimes a partner, family member, or colleague — can be a profound and complex part of their experience and recovery. Some survivors feel a strong desire to find and thank their rescuer; others find the encounter difficult to navigate emotionally.
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