Heart Care Foundation of India to train 20,000 people on CPR

The Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and the District Disaster Management Authority (East) announced the commencement of a large-scale awareness and training program on ‘Hands-Only CPR’ for East Delhi residents.

The launch was graced by luminaries including Anil Banka, District Magistrate (East), Sh.Puneet Kumar Patel, ADM (East), Rajendar Kumar, SDM Preet Vihar and from HCFI, Dr Veena Aggarwal, Trustee HCFI, Ms. Naina Aggarwal Ahuja, Trustee, HCFI, Dr Anil Kumar, Director HCFI.

Speaking at the occasion Anil Banka, DM (East) stressed on the power of community knowledge during his keynote. “India is witnessing a concerning uptick in cardiac arrest cases, underscoring the pressing need for widespread CPR training. Immediate application of Hands-Only CPR can be the thin line between life and death. Our mission, through this program, is to enable every citizen to potentially be a lifesaver. By collaborating with institutions like schools, colleges, NYKs, and Civil Defence Volunteers, we along with reputed NGO Heart Care Foundation of India aim to reach a broad audience. With our combined efforts, our vision is to train around 20,000 individuals by December 2023.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr Veena Aggarwal, Trustee Heart Care Foundation of India & CMD IJCP Group and Medtalks said, “As we emotionally remember Dr KK’s immense contributions to healthcare, it’s imperative we also continue his legacy of community welfare. The simplicity of Hands-Only CPR belies its life-saving potential, especially crucial in those first ten minutes following cardiac arrest. Through our partnership with DDMA (East), we aspire to permeate every part of East Delhi with this vital knowledge. I urge everyone to champion this cause, ensuring we together save numerous lives.”

Dr Veena Aggarwal further added, “With contemporary lifestyle pressures, the rise in sudden cardiac arrests, especially among urban dwellers and the younger populace, is alarming. While prevention and lifestyle adaptations are essential, it’s pivotal for everyone to realize that death can be reversed within ten minutes of a cardiac arrest. This underscores the importance of the Hands-Only CPR 10 technique. Our HCFI mantra succinctly encapsulates this: Within 10 minutes of death, for at least 10 minutes (25 for adults and 35 for children), one must consistently and effectively compress the deceased’s chest at a speed of 10×10=100 compressions per minute.”

A sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical conducting system of the heart fails and the heartbeats irregularly and very fast (more than 1000 times, technically called as ventricular fibrillation). Soon after the heart suddenly stops beating and the blood flow to the brain stops. As a result, the person becomes unconscious and stops normal breathing. A cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, but it may be caused by a heart attack. In most cases, sudden cardiac arrest may be reversible in the first 10 minutes. This is possible because the brain remains alive during this period when the heart and respiration have stopped, a situation called clinical death.

Continuous compression only CPR compresses the heart between the sternum and the backbone and builds up the pressure that keeps the oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and keeps the person alive until a defibrillator becomes available or expert medical help arrives. It is important to act quickly for every minute lost reduces the chances of revival by 10%. So, if you wait 5 minutes, the chances of surviving are 50% less. Newspatrolling