THREE-quarters of Scots would not feel confident enough to perform CPR on a loved one or family member if they collapsed at home.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has called on more people to learn the life-saving technique after its study found large numbers of people are unable to perform the procedure.
There are 22,000 people who die every year in the UK after having a heart attack in their home, according to new often in front of families who are powerless to help.
The BHF says that performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could double a person's chance of survival, and has launched a National Lifesavers campaign calling for mandatory CPR in secondary schools.
The BHF-commissioned survey - which involved 2,072 adults - found 47 per cent of people in Scotland would be deterred by the fear of causing more harm than good, while nearly four in ten of people lack the knowledge and skills to act.
The charity believes mandatory CPR skills and awareness campaigns could help save 5,000 lives a year.
The BHF's training programme for schools, workplaces and community groups teach three steps that could save a life: Call. Push. Rescue.
To mark the campaign launch, the BHF and Yorkshire Ambulance Service trained nearly 12,000 children in a bid to inspire all secondary schools to register for a free CPR training kit.
Marjory Burns, director of BHF Scotland, said: "Today's figures are a stark reminder that you're most likely to witness a loved one suffer a cardiac arrest so it's imperative people learn CPR should they be faced with the worst in their own home.
"The Call. Push. Rescue message is simple to remember and by spreading this far and wide we're determined to radically improve the country's shocking survival rates.
"We need every school, workplace, community group and individual to be inspired to register for a free CPR training kit and join the Nation of Lifesavers and help make Scotland a safer place to live."
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