States have implemented laws intended to protect people providing care to victims requiring emergency care. These laws vary from state to state and we encourage you to evaluate your state’s Good Samaritan Law. In general, the laws protect rescuers who act in good faith and provide care within the scope of their training. For example, if you chose to amputate a victim’s finger that is stuck in a door, you may not be protected from liability since, as a lifeguard, you have not been trained to perform such a procedure. Good Samaritan Laws may not protect someone who has a duty to act. A complete list of Good Samaritan laws by state can be found here: http://www.cprinstructor.com/legal.htm