Over the last few years, cardiac emergencies have seen an alarming rise in India, particularly among the younger age group (below 50 years). Heart attacks are increasingly affecting those in their prime–often striking suddenly without warning. This growing crisis points towards the urgency for action in those critical hours and the need for widespread Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training across the community.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a technique that revives the heart and the lungs. It is administered in an unresponsive patient whose heart has stopped beating and who has stopped breathing.
When a person’s heart stops beating, there is no blood supply to the body and vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidney. Every second counts when a heart stops. CPR involves giving chest compressions to a patient, which artificially circulates blood throughout the body, and giving breaths either by mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-mask, thereby providing oxygen to the patient.
Empowering citizens with CPR skills thus can mean the difference between life and death. Recognizing this dire need, Manipal Hospitals is taking the lead in transforming Bengaluru into a Heart-Smart City. Upholding the legacy with the initiative – “Guardians of the Heart”, we have initiated a comprehensive CPR training program across various organizations and educational institutes, with a mission to promote a society where everyone is prepared to act promptly during a cardiac emergency.
Recently, volunteers across Bengaluru showcased their emergency readiness at our ‘Mission 3K – 3000 Hearts One Beat’ event. This ground-breaking initiative not only relayed the critical importance of CPR but also led to a Guinness World Record for ‘Most People in a CPR Relay’ with 3,319 participants in just 24 hours.
