On September 29, coinciding with World Heart Day, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will proudly launch ‘Hridayapoorvam’ – a pivotal training and awareness campaign on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) spearheaded by the Health Department.
The event will be graced by Legislative Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer, who will preside over the inauguration. Health Minister Veena George, along with other esteemed Ministers, MLAs, and various officials, are also expected to attend.
Immediately after the launch, a specialized CPR training session will be conducted for all legislators and the staff of the Legislative Assembly, setting an example for the state.
According to the Health Minister, this ambitious statewide initiative aims to provide comprehensive, scientific first-aid training to every individual. The goal is to empower citizens to effectively resuscitate someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, significantly improving outcomes before professional medical help arrives.
To facilitate this, more than 200 dedicated training centers will be established throughout all districts. These centers will be equipped with modern mannequins, ensuring participants receive invaluable hands-on practice in performing CPR.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial emergency procedure performed when someone experiences a cardiac arrest—a life-threatening situation where the heart suddenly stops beating. When performed correctly, CPR can sustain a person’s life by maintaining vital blood flow to the brain and other organs. This buys critical time until advanced medical care, such as hospital admission or the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), can be employed to restore the heart’s rhythm and save a life.
The training program, designed to span several days, will be led by expert doctors from medical colleges, various hospitals, and private healthcare institutions across all districts. Esteemed professional medical organizations, including the Indian Medical Association and the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association, are actively collaborating with the government to ensure the success and widespread reach of this initiative.
CPR is a vital, life-saving technique that anyone with proper training can administer. It primarily involves rapid and forceful chest compressions on the center of the chest to maintain blood circulation to the brain and other critical organs. These compressions are often accompanied by rescue breaths to deliver oxygen to the lungs. CPR should be initiated immediately if a person is unresponsive, not breathing, and lacks a pulse.
Minister George emphasized the campaign’s core objective: to meticulously teach this critical, scientific life-saving skill to a broad spectrum of the state’s population. Target groups include drivers, police officers, university and higher secondary students, and various community volunteers, ensuring a widespread network of trained lifesavers.