American Heart Association Building a Nation of Lifesavers: Transforming CPR Training Across India
As out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) remain a leading driver of death and disability worldwide, with nations such as India impacted. As a global leader in the fight for healthy hearts, the Association launched a new collaboration in 2022 with All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to create A Nation of Lifesavers in India.
Led by Dr. T.S. Ravikumar, this collaborative boldly undertook one of the largest-ever studies into the effectiveness of Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HOCPR) education. Results of this groundbreaking study were presented in Chicago at the Scientific Sessions on 18th of November, illustrating how innovations in public health education have improved not only patient outcomes but also increased health equity in local communities with improving bystander CPR rates.
The two-year study examined data collected from an astounding 113,828 trainees learning at multiple training centers throughout India. Differences in pre-existing factors such as education levels, resources and local tradition, findings showed significant regional variations in participants’ pre- and post-training awareness, knowledge and skills. Such differences underscore the importance of customized programs that are informed by local conditions to maximize training effectiveness.
Notably, study outcomes also provided researchers with a clear path forward to proactively address this challenge. “Train-the-trainer” models were shown to be highly impactful across local communities, helping surmount barriers of culture, language, geography and more. By equipping local health practitioners and educators with the skills and resources that they needed, they were then able to present this information to their own communities in a way that was both understood and accepted.
The Nation of Lifesavers in India initiative is a vital step toward saving lives. Informed by the results of this study, the Association and its collaborative partners are ready to expand. The five currently participating AIIMS are Mangalagiri, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Deoghar and Bathinda. By recruiting more AIIMS and establishing long-term OHCA registries for monitoring and evaluation, this effort is poised to deliver a lasting impact as it empowers individuals across India to learn and implement CPR and help save lives.
Learn more here.
As out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) remain a leading driver of death and disability worldwide, with nations such as India impacted. As a global leader in the fight for healthy hearts, the Association launched a new collaboration in 2022 with All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to create A Nation of Lifesavers in India.
Led by Dr. T.S. Ravikumar, this collaborative boldly undertook one of the largest-ever studies into the effectiveness of Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HOCPR) education. Results of this groundbreaking study were presented in Chicago at the Scientific Sessions on 18th of November, illustrating how innovations in public health education have improved not only patient outcomes but also increased health equity in local communities with improving bystander CPR rates.
The two-year study examined data collected from an astounding 113,828 trainees learning at multiple training centers throughout India. Differences in pre-existing factors such as education levels, resources and local tradition, findings showed significant regional variations in participants’ pre- and post-training awareness, knowledge and skills. Such differences underscore the importance of customized programs that are informed by local conditions to maximize training effectiveness.
Notably, study outcomes also provided researchers with a clear path forward to proactively address this challenge. “Train-the-trainer” models were shown to be highly impactful across local communities, helping surmount barriers of culture, language, geography and more. By equipping local health practitioners and educators with the skills and resources that they needed, they were then able to present this information to their own communities in a way that was both understood and accepted.
The Nation of Lifesavers in India initiative is a vital step toward saving lives. Informed by the results of this study, the Association and its collaborative partners are ready to expand. The five currently participating AIIMS are Mangalagiri, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Deoghar and Bathinda. By recruiting more AIIMS and establishing long-term OHCA registries for monitoring and evaluation, this effort is poised to deliver a lasting impact as it empowers individuals across India to learn and implement CPR and help save lives.
Learn more here.