I like to think that, were I in a position to engage appropriately, I would act in such a situation. I'm not married, have no children, and I believe the people who might miss me would understand. I also feel that, if we hope/want to reverse the nanny state trend, citizens need to demonstrate that action is possible before state authority intervention.
All of that said, I will not judge or fault anyone whose obligations preclude the same philosophy. Honoring one's commitments is, in my opinion, the finest and most important demonstration of humane behavior, with its own heroism.