(From left) Kuan and Dr Tai donating a mannequin set to Hospital Sultan Idris Shah Serdang’s Dr Nur Haslinda Mohd Nordin (third from right).
AN UNFORTUNATE incident three years has stuck with social activist and philanthropist Kuan Chee Heng. He was slapped by the distraught wife of a cardiac arrest victim for saying that her husband showed no sign of life.
The man who collapsed while playing badminton was rushed to the hospital but died there.
This incident pushed Kuan to work harder in raising public awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The Pertubuhan Amal Uncle Kentang president launched the “Programme Malaysia Hero” at its office in Bandar Puchong Utama in Puchong, Selangor.
The programme, aimed at educating Malaysians about emergency help, is featuring the first-ever CPR lorry in Malaysia and an ambulance specifically designed for women and children.
During the launch, Kuan said the CPR vehicle would be deployed to Puchong to give residents hands-on CPR experience for free.
“Our first station is in Pusat Bandar Puchong.
“We want residents to come and learn this technique. It will take only 15 to 20 minutes.
“There is no retake for life. Don’t let your loved ones die because of your ignorance of proper emergency methods.”
Attendees showing the CPR vehicle which will be stationed in Puchong.
Kuan said at least one family member per household should master CPR because an ambulance often takes about 20 minutes to reach a home after receiving an emergency call.
“However, a cardiac arrest patient could be just 10 minutes away from death,” he said.
The CPR vehicle carries a range of mannequins of different sizes and shapes as well as a few automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the public to learn CPR.
Although the lorry would operate mainly in Puchong, Kuan said his team welcomed calls from other parts of Selangor, and would try their best to meet the demand.
He called for residential areas to establish a crisis response team to provide early assistance in emergencies.
Meanwhile, Dr Tai Woon Ting from Columbia Asia Hospital, Cheras, said the specially designed ambulance sought to provide more comfort for children.
“The ambulance is filled with child-themed decorations and contains medical equipment designed for children,” she said at the launch.
The event also saw three emergency physicians being appointed as Pertubuhan Amal Uncle Kentang consultants to help in matters related to emergencies.
Also present were representatives from the police, the Fire and Rescue Department and Subang Jaya City Council.
