Pakistan is facing a devastating heart health crisis, with a shocking 146 people dying every hour from cardiac issues—a staggering increase from just 12 per hour three years ago.
Even more alarming is the fact that 77% of these cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital, whether at home, work, or in public. In 93% of these cases, a family member or friend is present, but due to a lack of training, the survival rate is a tragically low 10%.
According to cardiologist Professor Dr. Fasih Hashmi, the solution to this tragedy lies in widespread training in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). This is an emergency procedure used when an individual’s heartbeat or breathing stops.
When the heart stops, oxygen supply to the brain is cut off. Brain cells begin to die within three minutes, and irreversible death can occur in ten. CPR manually maintains blood flow to the brain during this critical “golden window” until medical help arrives.
Recognizing its importance, public training campaigns, like those by the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), have been promoted since 2019, following a global trend.
Recent guidelines from the American Heart Association prioritize chest compressions (Basic Life Support). While the technique involves specific hand placements and pressure, Professor Hashmi strongly cautions that this article is for general information only. No one should attempt CPR without receiving proper, hands-on training from a qualified expert.
He stressed that this brief training is essential for everyone, regardless of age or gender. It empowers an individual to stop being a mere “spectator” during an emergency and instead step forward to save a precious life.
