A 'Good Samaritan' is someone who stops to help a stranger in need. National Good Samaritan Day, on March 13, encourages everyone to look out for others and to offer help when they can, whether that means calling for help in an emergency, assisting a neighbor or volunteering. It is also a good day to learn basic first aid and to understand the laws that protect people who help in emergencies.
History of National Good Samaritan Day
The term comes from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible's Gospel of Luke. In the story, a traveler is attacked and left by the road. Two passersby ignore him, but a Samaritan, a member of a group looked down on by the audience, stops to care for him. The story became a lasting example of compassion for strangers.
In the 20th century, psychologists studied why people sometimes fail to help in emergencies. Research on the 'bystander effect' found that people are less likely to help when many others are present, because each person assumes someone else will act. A widely reported 1964 case in New York City helped prompt this research.
Today, all U.S. states have some form of Good Samaritan law, which offers legal protection to people who give reasonable help in an emergency. Many communities also run first aid and CPR training. Who created National Good Samaritan Day is not documented.
Why National Good Samaritan Day Matters
Small acts of help can make a big difference to someone in a difficult moment, and they build stronger, safer communities.
Understanding the bystander effect helps people overcome hesitation and step in when it matters.
How to Celebrate National Good Samaritan Day
- Learn CPR or first aid: take a class from a recognized organization.
- Help a neighbor: shovel snow, carry groceries or check on an elderly neighbor.
- Volunteer: give time to a food bank, shelter or community group.
- Know how to call for help: teach children how and when to call 911.
- Be the one who acts: in an emergency, speak up and assign tasks to others.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, organizations can host a CPR or first aid training session, or organize a volunteer day with a local charity. Recognizing colleagues who help others is a good way to mark the day. In classrooms, students can discuss the parable as literature, learn about the bystander effect through age-appropriate scenarios, and practice what to do if someone is hurt or needs help. Older students can research Good Samaritan laws in their state. At home, families can talk about safe ways to help others, put together a car emergency kit, and choose one helpful act to do together that week.
Fun Facts About National Good Samaritan Day
- The term comes from a parable in the Gospel of Luke.
- The 'bystander effect' describes how people are less likely to help in a crowd.
- All U.S. states have some form of Good Samaritan law.
National Good Samaritan Day FAQs
When is National Good Samaritan Day?
It is observed on March 13.
Where does the term Good Samaritan come from?
From the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke.
What is a Good Samaritan law?
A law that protects people who give reasonable help in an emergency from legal liability.
What is the bystander effect?
The tendency for people to be less likely to help when others are present.