- Union Health Secretary Inaugurates CPR Awareness Week, Urges Every Citizen to Learn Lifesaving Skills
- Hands-Only CPR Demonstrations and Pledges Highlight the Weeklong Campaign Across the Country
- Over 15,000 Health Professionals and Civil Society Members Participate to Strengthen Community Response
NE HEALTH BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 13
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), a vital lifesaving procedure, took center stage on Monday as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated CPR Awareness Week (13–17 October 2025). The campaign, aimed at building mass awareness and community capability, was inaugurated by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in the presence of senior health officials, medical professionals, and civil society representatives.
Addressing the gathering, Srivastava emphasized: “The simple act of performing hands-only CPR can sustain blood flow and oxygen to vital organs until professional help arrives, increasing survival chances manifold.”
She highlighted the Ministry’s vision to ensure that every household, school, office, and public space has at least one trained individual capable of administering CPR. With cardiac arrest being one of the leading causes of sudden deaths in India, nearly 70% occur outside hospitals, where immediate professional help is often unavailable. Timely administration of CPR by a bystander can significantly improve survival outcomes.
Pledges and Live Demonstrations
The inauguration included a nationwide pledge for CPR awareness, accompanied by live hands-only CPR demonstrations conducted by medical experts. The demonstrations showcased simple, easy-to-learn steps that anyone can perform to save a life during cardiac emergencies.
Nationwide Participation and Community Engagement
The CPR Awareness Week has been designed to encourage community participation through panel discussions, expert interactions, quizzes, physical and virtual demonstrations, and IEC campaigns. Over 15,000 participants from the health sector and civil society across India joined the inaugural event, reinforcing the Ministry’s goal of creating a community ready to respond to cardiac emergencies.
Digital Initiatives and Ongoing Engagement
In collaboration with MyGOV and MyBharat platforms, the Ministry has launched an online pledge and CPR quiz to engage citizens nationwide. The effort underscores the commitment to continuous education, capacity building, and awareness around CPR, ensuring that lifesaving skills are widely disseminated across communities.
“This initiative is not just about learning a technique—it is about empowering citizens to save lives,” Srivastava concluded.
