Lawmakers in the eastern city of Hangzhou have recently suggested adding an exemption clause to its pre-hospital emergency regulation, stating that people with professional first aid skills are encouraged to provide treatment to strangers in need, exempting helpers from legal responsibility.

杭州市是中國第一個對“施救者免責”的城市。最近杭州出臺了《院前醫療急救管理條例》，鼓勵市民對傷者現場救護，救護行為受法律保護，不追究責任，換句話說，就是真救出問題來了，施救者會被免責。

Li Zonghao, executive vice president of the China Association for Disaster & Emergency Rescue Medicine, says the clause has very important legal significance.

"The introduction of this exemption clause can encourage the public to actively save patients who are in critical condition. It avoids all sorts of legal problems and relieves the worries of people who provided help. This exemption can be copied and used in other cities and regions."

But Ying Xumin, director at the Hangzhou municipal emergency center, says many people don't know how to conduct first aid.

"In many occasions, we need some basic common sense to proceed with treatment. Otherwise, our help could worsen a patients' condition."