Shillong: Nearly 1,200 people across Shillong learned to save lives on Tuesday. Students, teachers, and healthcare workers took part in hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for National CPR Day. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics CPR Training Centre at Nazareth Hospital teamed up with the Rotary Club of Shillong Heritage to run the event. This effort is part of a national push to train 40,000 people in one day.
Most cardiac arrests happen outside hospital walls. Dr. Hunsi Giri, an Associate Professor at Shillong Medical College, explained the urgency of the situation. "The first four to six minutes are vital, as every minute of delay reduces a victim’s chance of survival by nearly 17 per cent," she said. Chest compressions keep blood moving to the brain until doctors arrive.
Training sessions spread across the city to maximize reach. Shillong Polytechnic hosted 460 students, while St. Margaret’s Higher Secondary School saw 300 participants. Other sessions trained 130 people at Shillong Medical College and Ganesh Das Hospital, 100 at Nazareth Hospital, 100 at the Ratson Arena Football Ground in Mawiong, and 80 at Mawroh Secondary School. Nazareth Hospital staff taught hands-only CPR using mannequins to ensure citizens know the right rhythm and depth for compressions.
The nation observes this day on July 21 every year. It honors an IAP founding member who passed away from cardiac arrest. The goal is simple: build a network of people ready to help before the ambulance gets there.
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