New Resuscitation Academy in Hyderabad to train people in life-saving skills

Hyderabad: India has reported approximately 1.2 million cases of sudden cardiac arrest, and yet awareness of CPR remains critically low at just 2 per cent. Additionally, instances of bystanders giving CPR during a medical emergency are rare.

To address the lapses in equipment and personnel behind such statistics and underscore the urgent need for enhanced resuscitation strategies, EMRI Green Health Services (EMRI GHS) has established India’s first Resuscitation Academy at its national headquarters in Hyderabad.

This academy is the first of its kind, dedicated to excellence in resuscitation training, joining other countries of the world where 30 such academies exist.

What is the ambulance-to-citizen ratio in Telangana?

The 108 emergency ambulance services, operated by EMRI, to date have attended to over 30 crore emergencies, saving 80 lakh lives and assisting 7.5 lakh deliveries in their ambulances.

Speaking at the event, RV Karnan, commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, MD-NHM, CEO Aarogyasri Trust, said that Telangana has a significantly better ambulance availability compared to the national average.

While the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recommends a ratio of one Basic Life Support (BLS) and one Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance per 100,000 people, Telangana currently has one ambulance for every 64,500 people. The goal is to further improve this ratio to one ambulance per 50,000 people.

Telangana aiming for 100 trauma care centres

The senior officer emphasised the critical need for trauma care to be delivered within the Golden Hour to improve patient outcomes.

With support from the World Bank, Telangana is working to enhance its healthcare infrastructure by setting up 100 trauma care centres, aiming to strengthen emergency medical response capabilities. Karnan also highlighted the significance of training and awareness, particularly in CPR, noting that all police personnel in the state, along with 50,000 civilians, have been trained in life-saving techniques.

The importance of defibrillators in medical emergencies

Karnan also spoke about the need for Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)—a portable life-saving device that assesses heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore normal heartbeat, especially during sudden cardiac arrest.

He said that the devices must be made widely accessible, including in public places. He also stressed that all educational institutions should conduct CPR training programs. Additionally, he suggested fostering Public-Private Partnerships to enhance emergency care services.

CPR demonstration done to show its usefulness

A demonstration of bystander CPR and high-performance CPR was shown to the attendees. Vital Rao from Nirmal town, a CPR survivor, shared his experience, recalling how the 108 ambulance service saved his life, and he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the team.

To mark the occasion, the Inaugural Leadership Workshop of the Resuscitation Academy was held at the EMRI GHS Campus and will be extended to Friday, too.