Kuwait Heart Association calls for wider CPR training to save lives

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 15: The Kuwait Heart Association organized a workshop titled, “Cardiac Resuscitation in Public Places,” in line with its efforts to raise public awareness on the importance of CPR. The workshop aimed to encourage community members to acquire the skills needed to handle sudden cardiac arrest and to provide assistance during the critical minutes before the arrival of ambulance teams. It affirmed the importance of early intervention and the crucial role that community members play in saving lives. Dr. Mohammad Zubeid, Vice President of the association and Professor of Cardiology at the College of Medicine, stressed the need to raise CPR awareness among all segments of society. He encouraged individuals to learn the fundamental steps for managing sudden cardiac arrest, indicating that such incidents can occur anywhere -- in homes, on the streets, in shopping malls and other public spaces.

He explained that knowing how to respond to an emergency is a societal necessity, as rapid intervention can make the difference between life and death, particularly during the minutes preceding the arrival of an ambulance. He also stressed the importance of making Automated External Defi- brillators (AEDs) available in public places like shopping malls, schools, clubs and airports. He said these devices provide voice prompts to guide the user through the necessary steps and determine whether an electric shock is required.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ismail Habash, an emergency medicine specialist at Adan Hospital, emphasized the necessity of expanding CPR training. He pointed out this is vital, given that a significant number of cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, where family members or bystanders are often the first who can intervene to save the victim. Habash disclosed that around 70 percent of cardiac arrest cases happen outside hospitals, citing data presented during the workshop. He said the rate of bystander intervention for CPR in the country is about 8.7 percent, compared to 77 percent in San Francisco and Norway, and 48 percent in Singapore. He asserted that the speed of intervention is a critical factor for survival, as the brain begins to suffer the effects of oxygen deprivation within four to six minutes of blood fl ow cessation, whereas ambulance arrival time ranges from eight to 12 minutes. “This makes intervention during the period prior to the arrival of paramedics important,” he added.