By Raynald C Rivera
DOHA: Members of the public are urged to learn to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as it will enable anyone to save a life even before an ambulance arrives.
Teams from Hamad International Training Center (HITC), in addition to more than 250 healthcare volunteers yesterday taught members of the public on Doha Corniche, Wakrah Corniche and Katara, CPR-a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, including heart attack or near drowning, in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped.
“During cardiac arrest very few things can save lives, even technology may not save lives. Often, most cases of cardiac arrest happens in the public and the people’s attempt to conduct CPR is more important than the most advanced medical technology because for every minute without CPR is 10 percent reduction in the chance of survival,” said Dr Khalid Abdulnoor Saifeldeen, Director of HITC. He was speaking to The Peninsula at the launch event on Corniche of the “CPR Saves Lives”, a campaign which he said would reach schools and companies in the future.
“We are very pleased that we are launching this event, a first-of-its-kind in the region, a very important event because what we are doing is teaching every member of the public including children how to save lives. It is a very simple technique that everybody can do based on evidence and best practices elsewhere in the world.”
In addition to performing CPR, people are encouraged to call 999 immediately to seek medical assistance. “The best ambulance system in the world can take seven to ten minutes to arrive so it is what happens during the first few minutes which is crucial. So we encourage people to call the ambulance because the ambulance system in Qatar is very good. They will give them advice on the phone what to do, and what they are going to tell them to do is what we are teaching them today.”
There are occasions, however, when phone is not accessible so knowledge of CPR is very important to save a life, he added.
Dr Saifeldeen thanked Qatar Red Crescent Society, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Medical Services Department at the Ministry of Interior, Medical Services Corps of the Qatar Army and the Medical Unit at Qatar Petroleum which provided the volunteers.
Similar events will also be held today and tomorrow at City Center Mall, Landmark Mall, The Gate Mall and Gulf Mall between 3pm and 9pm.
“What we are doing here today is a start of something bigger that we hope in the near future to start working on, which is a national CPR programme, not only a one-day or a one-week event but a programme which will be done very frequently, not only outdoors but we are going to link it hopefully with schools and companies. This could be visible everywhere because it is such an important message and I’m sure every member of the public would agree.”
The Peninsula
