How to save a life

BANGALORE: Recent statistics reveals high prevalence of heart disease in Asia and an increasing percentage of young population who are suffering from cardiovascular complication. High-stress lifestyle, consumption of high amount of mono-saturated fat, erratic work hours coupled with lack of exercise is contributing to the surging numbers of young people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.Present circumstances urge us all to be better prepared to handle instances of cardiac arrests. Basic medical training that enables a normal citizen to handle cardiac arrests needs to be made part of mandatory training in schools, colleges and offices. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR as it is commonly known is a life-saving technique that is extremely useful during cardiac arrests.Chest compressions, possibly combined with artificial respiration (breathing) that is usually performed in a ‘mouth-to-mouth’ manner, are termed basic CPR. Providing CPR adds on precious moments and keeps some circulation going until expert help arrives.November is celebrated as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Awareness Month world-wide. This awareness programme is mainly aimed at inspiring people to be well equipped with the technique of CPR. The more people are trained, the greater the chance of keeping a person, who is experiencing cardiac arrest, alive until an ambulance arrives.Research shows that heart attack victims have double the chance of survival if they are immediately given CPR. The victim’s chance for survival is greatest if CPR is started as soon as the medical emergency occurs. In the absence of CPR, a victim’s chance of survival drops 7 to 10 per cent for every minute that lapses between collapse and medical intervention.About 80 per cent of all cardiac arrests that occur out of the hospital happen in homes, which emphasize the importance of all capable individuals being trained to perform CPR. Learning CPR is easy and inexpensive and it could mean saving the life of a friend or family… it can save a life anytime and anywhere.Dr Venkatesh AN,Senior Consultant for the emergency unit, Apollo Hospital, Bangalore.