Increasing sudden cardiac arrest deaths need to be addressed urgently : KTR

HYDERABAD: Increasing cases of young people collapsing and dying in Hyderabad, while bystanders around watch helplessly, need to be addressed urgently, stressed Minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday.

The Telangana government on Wednesday initiated a unique mass CPR Training program for first responders and field level healthcare personnel throughout Telangana to address the increased instances of relatively young individuals collapsing fatally because of unexpected cardiac arrests.

Telangana IT & MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao, Health Minister Harish Rao, and Labour and Employment Minister Malla Reddy inaugurated the CPR Training Programme on Wednesday at the GVK -108 Campus in Medchal. They also launched 'CPR and AED Training Manual' for master trainers, on the occasion.

While speaking during the inauguration of a mass CPR training program in Medchal, KTR said, "We believed that Telangana needed to implement a widespread training programme to offer skills to revive such individuals.I must congratulate the Health Minister for acting swiftly and firmly on the issue."

He further said, "CPR is a basic science. I request that Health Minister Harish Rao provide crucial training on what to do if a person collapses until a life support system arrives. Please train one lakh people in Hyderabad and a few hundred in other places".

Health Minister T Harish Rao acknowledged the urgent need for a mass CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training programme, which would go a long way in saving valuable lives, at the initiative's inaugural function on Wednesday at the GVK-Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), Medchal.

In response to recommendations from the IT Minister, including the purchase of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), Harish Rao said, "After recommendations from you, we have decided to place AED devices in all public places and even in apartment complexes. We are considering purchasing over 1,200 AEDs in the initial phase.

Harish Rao said, "Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, regardless of time, situation, or age. But timely cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save their lives. It is estimated that 24 thousand people die of cardiac arrest every year in Telangana state. At least half of these lives can be saved if CPR training is widespread".

He said, "We are training all medical, police, municipal, and panchayat raj employees. Everyone in the Gated Community, Security, Watchmen, Association, Resident Welfare Association, Panchayats, and Municipalities will be trained as part of the CPR training program".