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.

杭州市是中国第一个对“施救者免责”的城市。最近杭州出台了《院前医疗急救管理条例》，鼓励市民对伤者现场救护，救护行为受法律保护，不追究责任，换句话说，就是真救出问题来了，施救者会被免责。

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."