Chandigarh, Aug 30 (PTI) The Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF), in collaboration with PGIMER, on Sunday launched Project BLS (Basic Life Support), a community-based initiative to equip citizens with basic lifesaving skills to respond to cardiac emergencies.
The initiative, “Bystanders Can Save Lives”, was launched in Panchkula by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) Director Prof Vivek Lal, who was the chief guest.
The programme aims to take basic CPR and emergency-response awareness beyond hospitals and into the community, enabling ordinary citizens to act as first responders, a statement said.
The training covers recognising a collapsed person, performing chest compressions and understanding the appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Addressing the gathering, Lal drew a parallel between soldiers, doctors and citizens, saying that just as soldiers are always on duty and doctors are always ready to save lives, every citizen should consider themselves “on duty” when a life is at stake.
Expressing concern over the increasing incidence of cardiac arrests, Lal said that despite advances in medical technology, diagnostics and medicines, deaths due to cardiac arrest continue to rise. He also expressed concern over the growing incidence of such emergencies among younger people.
Lal said PGIMER would extend its expertise and support to the initiative, which seeks to take lifesaving knowledge from medical institutions directly to citizens and communities.
Earlier, K K Talwar, former director of PGIMER, emphasised the importance of timely intervention by bystanders during the crucial first few minutes of a cardiac emergency, before professional medical assistance becomes available.
He said the workshop was the first in a series and CCF was committed to taking the campaign across the Chandigarh region.
As part of the initiative, CCF plans to organise similar BLS awareness and training sessions in schools, colleges and resident welfare associations across the Tricity region of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.
The BLS awareness course was conducted by a PGIMER team and included a hands-on practical session at five training stations.
Keshni Anand Arora, a member of the CCF governing council who is piloting the initiative, welcomed the participants and outlined its community-focused approach, while CCF vice-president Vini Mahajan presented an overview of the foundation’s citizen-centric initiatives.
CCF said the larger objective of Project BLS was to create a network of trained and confident citizens across the Chandigarh region who can respond promptly during life-threatening emergencies.
CCF is a civic platform in the Chandigarh region that aims to bring together citizens to promote sustainable development, public welfare, and heritage conservation. PTI SUN MDO MDO
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