Introduction

Every year, thousands of people die from cardiac arrest simply because help doesn’t reach them in time. In many cases, lives are lost even before an ambulance arrives or the patient reaches the hospital. The recent incident of an employee losing his life to cardiac arrest at a shop in India is a heart-breaking reminder of this reality. 

In such critical moments, every second matters—and few skills are as powerful as knowing how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). 

CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure used when someone’s heart stops beating or when they stop breathing normally. It keeps blood and oxygen circulating to the brain and other vital organs until medical help takes over. Although often associated with medical professionals, CPR is a skill anyone can learn—students, shopkeepers, travellers, or bystanders—and it can mean the difference between life and death.

What Is CPR?

CPR stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. When the heart stops (a condition known as cardiac arrest), blood flow to the brain and vital organs ceases. If blood flow is not restored immediately, permanent brain damage can occur within minutes. CPR manually pumps blood through chest compressions and supplies oxygen through rescue breaths.

Why CPR Knowledge Is Important for the General Public

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere — at home, at work, on the road, or during sports. Over 70% of cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, often witnessed by family, friends or colleagues. If the people nearby know CPR, the chance of survival increases manifold.

CPR Is Simple and Learnable 

It is a common misunderstanding that CPR is difficult and requires medical background. The technique of CPR, especially Hands-Only CPR (without mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths) — is simple and can be learnt in less than an hour. 

Hands-Only CPR involves two steps:

1. Call for help (Dial emergency number 108 or 112 in India; 112 emergency number can be connected through phone call, SMS, e-mail, panic button and '112 India' mobile app)

2. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest (at least 100–120 compressions per minute)

Real-Life Examples

Example 1: A man collapses in a metro station due to sudden cardiac arrest. A bystander trained in CPR starts compressions immediately. Within minutes, the victim regains a pulse before the ambulance arrives. 

Example 2: A child chokes and stops breathing at home. The mother, having attended a basic CPR class, clears the airway and performs chest compressions. The child survives.

The Role of Public Awareness Campaigns

The public can learn CPR through any of the following steps:

1. Attend Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR Workshops

2. Learn online through video tutorials

3. Participate in school and workplace CPR programs

4. Join community health initiatives

Every second counts when a life is at risk. Yet too many people hesitate to perform CPR—held back by fear of making a mistake or by legal worries. But doing something is always better than doing nothing. In India, Good Samaritan laws protect those who act with good intentions during emergencies. No one should be afraid to save a life.

Governments, NGOs, and healthcare institutions must work together to make CPR training accessible to all—through schools, community workshops, and awareness drives. 

CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing until professional help arrives, while an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can restore a normal heartbeat. Installing AEDs in public places such as malls, airports, and schools can greatly increase survival rates.

Conclusion

When a community is trained in CPR, it becomes safer and more resilient. Neighbours can act quickly in an emergency, teachers can protect students, and colleagues can save one another’s lives. Every person who learns CPR becomes a potential hero. 

CPR knowledge should be as widespread as knowing how to contact emergency services. Just a few minutes of action can decide between life and death. By making CPR training part of school education and community health programs, we can build a more caring and prepared society.