Worrying about "doing it wrong" is one of the most common reasons bystanders freeze. Let's take the fear apart.
Imperfect CPR still saves lives
When someone is in cardiac arrest, their heart has effectively stopped. Without circulation, the odds drop every minute. Chest compressions — even compressions that are a little too shallow, a little too slow, or not perfectly placed — keep oxygen-rich blood moving to the brain. Something is dramatically better than nothing. The only truly "wrong" CPR is the CPR that never happens.
Good Samaritan laws protect you
Every U.S. state, including Louisiana, has Good Samaritan laws that protect people who voluntarily give reasonable, good-faith emergency aid from being sued for unintentional harm. If you step in to help a stranger in good faith and without expecting payment, the law is on your side.
What "good faith" means
Call 911, act within the level of your training, and don't abandon the person once you start. That is the standard — not perfection.
The best way to feel confident
Reading removes some fear; practice removes the rest. In a hands-on class you push on a real manikin until the rate and depth feel automatic — so if the day ever comes, your hands already know what to do. See what to expect in a class.