Experts Advocate National CPR Training Policy in Schools at AIIMS Meet

A key meeting at AIIMS Delhi discussed integrating CPR training into the school curriculum. Experts proposed a national policy, backed by a study involving 4,500 students, revealing significant CPR skills improvement. The initiative aligns with NEP 2020 for skill-based education and aims to reduce cardiac arrest fatalities in India.

In a pivotal meeting held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, experts recommended establishing a comprehensive policy framework for implementing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training within India's school curriculum. The consultation, held on Tuesday, gathered key figures and emphasized the urgent need for nationwide school CPR education.

The discussion was anchored by a research study conducted under the guidance of Dr. Sanjeev Bhoi, Professor of the Emergency Medicine Department at AIIMS. Funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the study involved 4,500 students from 15 schools over three years. Findings indicated that students and teachers were highly receptive to CPR training, showing marked improvement in knowledge and skills post-intervention.

AIIMS highlighted that middle school students efficiently absorbed CPR knowledge, while older students (11th and 12th grades) demonstrated better proficiency in performing CPR, partly due to their physical strength. This initiative supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's focus on skill-based learning. AIIMS, along with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency and Trauma Care, proposed integrating CPR training into physical education, suggesting it be included in examinations to ensure thorough learning.

The meeting underscored the crucial role CPR plays in saving lives, noting stark differences in bystander CPR rates between India and Europe. The Indian figures range from 0-10%, contrasting sharply with 50% in some European nations. Immediate CPR can drastically reduce the high number of cardiac arrest fatalities in India, where an average of two deaths per minute occur.

Dr. Vinod Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, alongside prominent figures like Prof. Dinesh Parsad Saklani, Director of NCERT, and Dr. M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS, engaged in the discussions. The consensus was clear: a national school CPR program is imperative. NITI Aayog, NCERT, and NHSRC expressed strong support, encouraging the preparation of a nationwide dissemination plan.

The meeting's primary objectives were to share the contextualized research on school CPR, promote a national policy framework, and brainstorm strategies for widespread dissemination across India.

(With inputs from agencies.)