Come Independence Day, and the Delhi Police PCR van staff will be able to assist sudden cardiac arrest patients in an emergency situation

Come Independence Day, and the Delhi Police PCR van staff will be able to assist sudden cardiac arrest patients in an emergency situation

Heart Care Foundation of India, IMA, Delhi Police and Delhi Red Cross society has taken up the initiative to train 100% of the PCR van staff in the life-saving technique of Hands Only CPR 10

New Delhi, July 16, 2015: Heart Care Foundation of India jointly with the Indian Medical Association, Delhi Red Cross Society and Delhi Police has taken up the challenge of training 100% of the Delhi Police PCR van staff on the life-saving technique of hands only CPR 10 by Independence Day 2015. With over 250 police personnel being trained on a daily basis and over 2500 having being trained so far, the task of training each and every of the 8000 Delhi Police PCR van staff by August 15, 2015 seems realistic and success will be met.

Addressing the gathering of over 250 police men at the IMA today Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal - President of Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General of IMA said that, “In an emergency situation Hands Only CPR 10 can be used effectively through a few easy to remember steps. First and foremost one must call an ambulance or nearest medical help. Then you can also dial 100 to request the nearest Delhi Police PCR van to reach you and assist with hands only CPR. And most importantly without wasting any time, you must start compressing the center of the chest of the victim at a speed of 10 x 10 - 100 per minute. You must continue the chest compressions till medical help arrives or the person gets revived. Each person must remember that CPR must only be performed on a person whose heart has stopped working and is not breathing.”

Adding to this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr A Marthanda Pilliai, National President, IMA, said,  “The Government must make it mandatory for all public places to have automatic electric shock machines to save maximum lives of people who suffer from a sudden cardiac arrest. Death for such patients is reversible if awareness is raised and the right life-saving technique is used.”

Urging people to learn Hands Only CPR 10, renowned wrestling coach and former wrestler Padma Bhushan Awardee Guru Satpal Singh said, “Hands Only CPR 10 is an extremely simple to learn but an essential and extremely important technique which can help save the lives of near and dear ones. I urge everyone to learn it and spread awareness about this new initiative where the Delhi Police can be contacted not just in case of a theft or robbery but even a medical emergency such as a cardiac arrest.  They are the closest to your homes and will be the fastest to reach. "

Mr Ranvir Singh IPS Add Commissioner of Police Operation said " Dial for an ambulance or the nearest medical or dial 100 for assistance and start compressing the center of the chest at a speed of 100 per minute and help save a life”.

A sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical conducting system of the heart fails and the heartbeats irregularly and very fast (more than 1000 times, technically called as ventricular fibrillation). Soon after the heart suddenly stops beating and the blood flow to the brain stops. As a result, the person becomes unconscious and stops normal breathing. A cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, but it may be caused by a heart attack. In most cases, sudden cardiac arrest may be reversible in the first 10 minutes. This is possible because the brain remains alive during this period when the heart and respiration have stopped, a situation called clinical death. 

It is important to act quickly for every minute lost reduces the chances of revival by 10%. So, if you wait 5 minutes, the chances of surviving are 50% less. The earlier you give CPR to a person in cardiac arrest, the greater the chance of a successful resuscitation. To know more or to organize a training camp in your locality, please call the NGO’s helpline number 9958771177.