Everyone should learn life-saving skills like CPR

RECENTLY, I read a report about a teacher in Ipoh who died after suffering from a heart attack. There were allegations that the paramedic team who responded to the emergency call did not perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the teacher, who had collapsed in his car.

This case brings to light the importance for the general public to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) skills.

According to the American Heart Association, brain cells begin to die in just four minutes without sufficient oxygen. CPR must be performed immediately in order to save the victim’s life.

Earlier this year, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that all public facilities and transportation services will be required to have automated external defibrillator (AED) devices available by 2025, as reported in “All public facilities, transport must have AED devices by 2025, says KJ” (The Star, March 25; online at https://bit.ly/3NeOf4t).

While the hardware is being prepared, we also need to equip people with the skills to perform CPR and use the AED, a medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock (defibrillation) to help it re-establish an effective rhythm.

In a survey, which I personally conducted in 2020, I found that 75% of my 594 respondents did not know where to learn CPR and AED skills. A pre-course survey, which I also carried out, revealed that CPR literacy in Malaysia is low.

This prompted St John Ambulance of Malaysia to organise more courses for the general public. At the national headquarters, for every course conducted and paid for by corporations, one free CPR and AED course is conducted for the public and community.

I hope the unfortunate circumstances of the teacher’s death will drive more Malaysians to learn essential lifesaving skills like CPR. The incident has also encouraged us to reach out to more Malaysians to spread the important knowledge that they can help to save lives by acquiring these skills. Go to https://firstaid.sjam.org.my to register for the course.

CHEW HOONG LING

Corporate training manager

St John Ambulance of Malaysia