CPR training session held in Kochi bags twin Guinness records

'Heart Beats 2019’, a training session conducted to create awareness and knowledge about the cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the CPR which is an emergency procedure administered to save the life of a person in cardiac arrest, has created history by bagging double Guinness Book records. The sessions conducted at Nedumbaserry CIAL convention centre broke the previous records of 9000 persons getting trained in 8 hours in hands only CPR and training 28015 persons in 24 hours. At the ‘Heart Beats 2019’ 28,523 participants were trained in administering CPR, in 8 hours. Besides the Guinness world record, this incredible feat has found a place in the Best of India Records as well. Students of classes 9 to plus two from about 350 schools in the district took part in the mega event.

The program was jointly organized by the Kochi chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Ernakulam district administration, Angel International Foundation and the district legal service society, based on the instructions of the American Heart Association. The event was inaugurated by High Court judge CK Abdul Raheem and Anwar Saadath MLA by doing CPR on a mannequin.

Around 4000 students, in 400 teams of 10 students each, took part in each training session that lasted an hour. They were trained by 400 skilled trainers and 80 stewards as well. The Hearts Beats 2019 which began at 9.45 am was led by Dr Sachin V Menon, Dr Venugopalan PP and Dr V Ajith. Besides, an expert team of 4 members had supervised all the sessions. In an hour-long session, a detailed class was conducted about how to administer the CPR that combines chest compressions and artificial ventilation, with the help of a video. The session also included practical training where each student was allowed to administer the CPR on a mannequin for 2 minutes. They were able to do up to 200 CPR within that time. The record was evaluated by a team led by Guinness adjudicator Rishinath. Around 1000 doctors, 3000 volunteers, 80 stewards and 3000 organizing committee members strived hard to make Heart Beats 2019 a grand success. Around 400 mannequins were used for the training sessions.