According to the Mayo Clinic, for every three witnessed cardiac arrests that happen outside of a hospital, only one victim receives CPR from a bystander. The greatest reason bystanders are hesitent to help is because they aren't confident in their knowledge of CPR and fear hurting the person.
In an effort to bolster CPR and AED awareness, there has been a recent surge of states who have been passing new laws requiring high school graduates to take CPR training offered by the school. Kentucky has become the 35th state on the growing list.
Even if the bystander hesitence persists in public, the American Heart Association says that 80% of cardiac arrests occur in the home. One student saved his father's life by performing CPR until the paramedics arrived, using the skills he learned in a high school health course.
Even states who may not require it for high school graduation may require schools to offer the elective to their students. If it is not required for your child, find out if their school has a CPR and AED training course, or a health course that covers the essentials, and encourage your child to take it. These courses often only provide "Hands-Only" CPR training, with no mouth-to-mouth breathing.
Note that some states do not require the CPR/AED instructors to be certified teachers. If you question the quality of instruction that your child received, consider looking elsewhere for a CPR or AED class. Some local groups may offer it free for students, and it is encouraged that parents also learn these important life skills as well. Even just a one-time session of 30 minutes from a certified teacher is considered effective. Some teachers may require a minimum number of trainees, but don't hesitent to encourage other students and their families to join in.
You may also want to check if CPR and AED training is required for your child's teachers.
Lastly, it is also good to be familiar with your state's Good Samaritan laws as well. If you or anyone you know is hesitent about performing CPR on someone, know that these laws are there to protect you in case you were unable to successfully save the victim. There is no reason not to act!