SHILLONG, July 22: Nearly 1,200 people, including students, healthcare workers, and teachers, received hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training across Shillong on Tuesday to mark National CPR Day.
The initiative was organised by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) CPR Training Centre at Nazareth Hospital, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Shillong Heritage. The drive was part of a nationwide IAP campaign aiming to train over 40,000 people in a single day to improve emergency response to cardiac arrests.
Dr. Hunsi Giri, Associate Professor at Shillong Medical College, emphasized that immediate intervention by bystanders is critical since most cardiac arrests occur in homes, workplaces, or public spaces rather than hospitals. She noted that the first four to six minutes are vital, as every minute of delay reduces a victim’s chance of survival by nearly 17 per cent. Effective chest compressions maintain blood circulation to the brain until advanced medical care arrives.
The training reached a wide cross-section of the city. At Shillong Polytechnic, 460 students were trained, while 300 students and teachers participated at St. Margaret’s Higher Secondary School. Other sessions included 130 participants at Shillong Medical College and Ganesh Das Hospital, 100 at Nazareth Hospital, 100 at the Ratson Arena Football Ground in Mawiong, and 80 at Mawroh Secondary School.
Instructors from Nazareth Hospital focused on “hands-only CPR,” a simplified technique for laypersons. Using mannequins, they guided participants through correct hand placement, compression depth, and rhythm to build confidence for real-life emergencies.
National CPR Day is observed annually on July 21 in memory of a founding member of the IAP who died following a cardiac arrest. The campaign seeks to create a vast network of first responders capable of providing life-saving assistance before professional medical help reaches the scene.
