A Pune housing complex combines Ganeshotsav celebrations with CPR training

The Cityscapes Cultural Committee said the idea was to use Ganeshotsav as a platform to spread health consciousness.

The society’s Cultural Committee has been hosting daily festive programmes during Ganeshotsav. (Representational)

Medical professionals have long talked about the need for greater awareness and knowledge of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) among the public. On Sunday, the Guardian Cityscapes Society on Sinhgad Road decided to blend festive spirit with medical awareness. It organised a major CPR awareness and training session as part of its Ganeshotsav celebrations. The event was met with resounding reception – nearly 400 residents, including a large number of young adults turned up to learn this life-saving skill.

The session was led by Dr. Bhushan Kinholkar, Intensivist at Sanjivan Hospital and a resident of the society. He was accompanied by a team of Intensive Care Unit doctors. Dr. Kinholkar highlighted the urgency of CPR literacy in India. “In India, only 2 per cent of people know how to perform CPR, compared to 40-60 per cent in Western countries. Every minute counts during cardiac arrest and an early CPR can increase survival chances by 40 to 50 per cent,” he said. Dr. Kinholkar added that the training was designed to empower even adolescents to act in emergencies before medical help arrives.

For many residents, the programme carried memories of personal urgency. Chinmay Athavale, a 41-year-old IT professional, who participated in the session with his wife, said that there had been two sudden cardiac deaths in the society over the past year. “Both were in their early forties, and it happened within minutes. The families of the patients had no idea what to do, even though doctors live among us. That helplessness was an eye-opener. I don’t want to remain blank in such a situation again,” he said. Incidentally, instances of heart attack are rising in India among people around and below 40. Experts attribute this to changes in lifestyle habits and modern-day stresses, among other factors.

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Athavale added that his hectic work schedule makes CPR training even more relevant, “In IT, stress and long hours take a toll on our health. If I know CPR, at least I can act when it matters,” he said.

The Cityscapes Cultural Committee said the idea was to use Ganeshotsav as a platform to spread health consciousness. “Festivals bring the community together. We wanted to channel that energy into something meaningful. This is just the beginning, we’ll organise more sessions in the coming months,” said Girish Markale, a committee member.

The society’s Cultural Committee, which has been hosting daily festive programmes during Ganeshotsav, converted its event hall into a training venue for the day. They are confident that Ganpati Bappa has blessed the endeavour.

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