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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Health department’s training and awareness campaign on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), “Hridayapoorvam”, on September 29, the World Heart Day. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, A.N. Shamseer will preside. Health Minister Veena George, other Ministers, MLAs and officials will participate. Following the inauguration, CPR training session will be held for legislators and Legislative Assembly staff. The Health department is launching the State-wide CPR awareness and training campaign so that everyone receives scientific first-aid training to resuscitate persons who suffer sudden cardiac arrest, before reaching the hospital, the Minister said Over 200 training centres across all districts will be set up, which will have modern mannequins to provide practical training in giving CPR. CPR is an emergency life-saving procedure/first aid performed when a person suffers a cardiac arrest, a health emergency wherein the heart stops beating. If administered properly, CPR can help keep a person alive by maintaining the blood flow till emergency hospitalisation or an automated external defibrillator (AED) can be made available to restore the heart beat of the person and bring him back to life. Medical Colleges, other hospitals and experienced doctors in private hospitals will all lead the training programme in districts. Professional organisations of doctors, the Indian Medical Association and Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association are cooperating with the Government in conducting the training programme, which will be taken up over several days. CPR is an emergency life-saving measure which anyone with training can provide. It involves chest compressions (pushing hard and fast on the centre of the chest) to maintain the blood flow to the brain and organs, alongside rescue breaths to provide air to the lungs. CPR may be initiated if a person is not breathing and he does not have a pulse. The idea is to impart this emergency life-saving skill, in the scientific manner in which CPR should be delivered, to a significant section of the State’s population, including drivers, police officials,college students, higher secondary students and volunteers, Ms George said.
