Doctors Aims for One CPR-Trained Person Per Household
Younus Ras
Anantnag, June 19: A total of 120 participants, including faculty members, consultants, residents and support staff, were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Basic Life Support (BLS) during a three-day IAP CPR Provider Level Course that concluded at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag on Friday.
The course was organised by the Department of Pediatrics, GMC Anantnag, under the aegis of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) ALS-BLS Group.
According to a statement issued by GMC Anantnag, the institution will soon be designated as an Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) CPR Accredited Centre, enabling it to conduct regular Advanced and Basic Life Support training programmes for healthcare providers and the general public across the region.
Principal GMC Anantnag Prof Dr Junaid S Wani said the accreditation would enable healthcare workers and trainees in the institution to access standardised lifesaving skills training locally and strengthen emergency care services.
The course was coordinated by Dr Showkat Hussain Tali, Head of the Department of Pediatrics at GMC Anantnag and IAP ALS-BLS Coordinator for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tali said delays in providing basic resuscitation often cost lives.
“People often wait for a doctor to arrive or for an ambulance to come and save a life. However, studies show that we usually have only four to six minutes during which timely action can save a person’s life,” he said.
“Our objective is to ensure that every healthcare worker in every hospital is capable of providing at least Basic Life Support. Beyond that, it is our dream that there should not be a single household in Kashmir without at least one person trained to provide Basic Life Support,” he added.
The training was conducted by Dr Lokesh Tiwari, Professor and Head, Pediatric Pulmonology, AIIMS Rishikesh, and National Convener of the IAP ALS-BLS Group, along with a team of national faculty members.
“This period is known as the golden time. If chest compressions are administered correctly and without delay during this critical window, they can make the difference between life and death,” Dr Tiwari said.
The programme also saw the launch of an online Basic Life Support course portal for the general public of Jammu and Kashmir. The portal will provide training in CPR and choking management and is available through the GMC Anantnag Facebook page and will also be made available on the institution’s official website.
Dr Sumati Verma, Assistant Professor and Pediatric ICU Specialist at Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, said CPR training should reach more people across the country.
“When a person suddenly collapses, it is important to know how to immediately begin chest compressions and help revive them. This training is not limited to adults; it also covers infants and children. By learning these skills, lives can be saved regardless of age,” she said.
“More people should learn, and in turn, train others, because the best way to learn is to teach,” she added.
According to the statement, potential instructors from GMC Anantnag were identified during the course and will undergo further training to qualify as National Trainers under IAP guidelines, creating a local pool of trainers for future BLS and ALS programmes.
