Learn life-saving CPR from doctors at your doorstep

As part of the IAP National Week of CPR, themed ‘CPR Saves Lives’ with the tagline ‘Your Skills, Their Survival,’ doctors have already trained over 2,000 students at institutions including LJNJ Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Eurokids Preschool (Kandivali), Sathaye College, and Vidya Vikas University College.

Dr Bela Verma, executive board member of National IAP, emphasised the importance of this training: “CPR is a crucial life-saving skill that everyone. Integrating CPR training into school curricula ensures that Young people are equipped to respond effectively in emergencies. Early CPR significantly increases survival rates in cardiac arrest situations, making it vital knowledge for everyone,” she said.

With approximately 112 people experiencing cardiac arrest daily due to various lifestyle factors, learning CPR is increasingly important. CPR, which combines chest compressions and artificial ventilation, helps maintain circulation and breathing in cases of cardiac arrest.

Dr Nehal Shah, president of Mumbai IAP, stressed the urgency of learning CPR. “Cardiac arrest can occur unexpectedly, whether at work or home. Survival chances are highest if CPR is administered within the critical 4-6 minutes following an arrest. Delays increase mortality rates by 17%,” he said, adding, “This is why we are committed to actively training individuals in CPR.”

“A victim has the best chance of recovery if CPR is administered immediately by someone nearby who recognises the condition,” Dr Shah said.

A recent report by the Cardiological Society of India highlighted a concerning statistic: only 2% of the general population is aware of the critical nature of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and the effectiveness of CPR, compared to the international average of 30%.