The public learning to perform CPR from a St John Ambulance personnel. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
NGO coaches on CPR technique, defibrillator use in full-day event
SOME 300 people took part in a free session on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) at a mall in Penang.
Organised by the northeast district of St John Ambulance Malaysia (SJAM) at Queensbay Mall, the training also taught parents skills in child and baby CPR, including choking rescue techniques.
Participant Akmal Akram, who is an engineer, said the training refreshed his memory on life-saving methods learnt during his university days.
“It is vital to learn these basic skills which can be put to good use, especially if any family members or loved ones suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.
“It is a good opportunity to refresh my memory,” he said.
Akmal’s friend Nurliyana Azman, who also attended the training, said she learnt how to perform CPR during her school days.
“But the AED is new to me. I know how it works, but I never had hands-on experience with the machine.
“Training of this sort should be held regularly in Penang,” she said, adding that she was fortunate to be able to take part in the training for free.
Fahmi (middle) launching the one-day awareness and training event at Queensbay Mall, Penang.
CPR is an emergency procedure involving chest compressions and rescue breathing, used if a person’s heart stops beating or if their breathing ceases.
The AED is a portable device used to treat people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack, which is potentially fatal.
Pensioner Thomas Wong, 63, and his wife Lin Ming Huey, 50, also tried performing CPR and using the AED during the event.
Wong said he found it easy to learn these important skills.
“It is easy to pick up and most importantly, we learn how to save people’s lives in case of a cardiac arrest,” he said.
Earlier, Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Fahmi Zainol said events like this were something Penang had been advocating for since 2015.
He said Penang was the first in the country to start the Heart Safe Programme, one of the health-related initiatives by the state government.
“The Penang Heart Safe Programme kicked off in 2015 with a mass CPR carnival event to teach the public the basics of CPR and the correct methods of using an AED.
“One other aspect of the programme was the installation of public access defibrillators (PAD) so that the public can have access to these machines to help save lives during an emergency,” he added.
Fahmi, who is also Penang agrotechnology, food safety and cooperative development committee chairman, said the state needed reliable partners such as St John Ambulance Malaysia to create awareness at grassroots level.
“Every layer of the community should have knowledge of CPR and access to AED.
“The state should make it compulsory to have AED installed at schools in Penang for the sake of the children and teachers’ safety in schools.
“The state may be able to help subsidise the cost of AEDs,” said Fahmi.
The full-day awareness and training event was sponsored by Queensbay Mall, Plexus Manufacturing Malaysia, Penang Holiao, myAED4u, Safetyware, BH Electronics, Young Malaysians Movement, North East Area Penang, YMM DTL Penang and senQ.
