B'luru Apartment complexes train residents on CPR techniques

While cardiac arrests primarily strike people over 65 years of age, younger individuals below 50 are also at risk. This calls for people around the patient to be aware and prepared to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which can improve their chances of survival.Tata Promont in Banashankari came forward to raise awareness by hosting a CPR training programme in collaboration with Manipal Hospital on June 15. The initiative was led by Dr Anjana Ravindranath, head of emergency at Manipal Hospital, Jayanagar. The hour-long session focused on teaching residents how to help an individual experiencing a cardiac arrest using CPR techniques.Priya Shenoy, 48, a resident who works as an ayurvedic doctor, says they were taught how to identify and handle such a situation using a dummy model.

“The safety protocols to perform chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth CPR were also discussed,” she says. Residents learnt about the ‘Good Samaritan law’, which legally protects people performing CPR, in case strong chest compressions lead to the patient suffering a rib injury.

They were also advised to use CPR masks to prevent transmission of infections while still allowing airflow during mouth-to-mouth CPR.

68-year-old Shobha Gandhi also attended the session along with her husband. She expressed difficulty in kneeling down to perform traditional CPR, having undergone bilateral knee surgery. The doctor and team suggested she could help by guiding another person to do it. “They explained how to respond if the patient is choking or suffering from a seizure, and advised us to keep emergency medicines like Ecosprin ready for those at risk of heart attacks,” she says.Apartment complexes should also consider installing an automated external defibrillator (AED), a device that gives electric shocks to try and restore a normal heartbeat during a cardiac arrest. An AED can cost Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh, and the person using it requires training. Apollo Hospital in Seshadripuram has worked with complexes like Jains Aashraya on Bannerghatta Road, and ETA Gardens in Majestic, to conduct these sessions.Ajmera Infinity in Electronics City worked with Fortis Hospital to conduct a CPR training session in May. “Residents, especially senior citizens, actively participated in this session, making it one of our successful initiatives,” says Sony K, member of the management committee.Three years ago, Prestige Shantiniketan in Whitefield conducted a CPR training workshop in collaboration with Aster CMI Hospital in Hebbal. Kinder Hospital has engaged in conducting a similar workshop with SLV Apartments in Avalahalli. “Residents had multiple doubts related to chest compressions and the precautions needed to ensure the safety of the patient,” says Dr SK Mohanty, chief anesthetist and medical director at Kinder Hospital.Diya Hussain V AVoice BoxI try to be self-reliant by reducing dependency on my family and making healthy choices, but in case of a sudden cardiac arrest, I expect people to know CPR, the same way I’ve prepared myself to help others in need

Shobha Gandhi, 68, RESIDENT, TATA PROMONT, BANASHANKARIAs a regular traveller who has witnessed cases of cardiac emergency in various places, I feel it’s necessary for everyone to know how to perform CPR and such training sessions can help make that possibleBirendra Sharma, 60, RESIDENT, AJMERA INFINITY, ELECTRONICS CITYWe use adult and pediatric mannequins to ensure the correct demonstration and make sure the instructions to perform CPR are clear and concise

Dr Himaaldev GJ, HEAD OF CRITICAL CARE, APOLLO HOSPITAL, SESHADRIPURAM