The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has successfully engaged over 7,47,000 citizens during the Pan-India CPR Awareness Week held from October 13 to 17, with physical training provided to more than 6,06,000 participants across the country. The week-long initiative aimed to strengthen community response capacity by promoting Compression-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness and training among the general public.
The Ministry said the awareness week was designed to sensitize citizens about the critical importance of early bystander intervention during cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies. Despite CPR’s proven life-saving potential, bystander CPR rates in India remain below global standards, the statement noted, and the initiative sought to bridge this gap through widespread training, awareness, and behavioral readiness.
Activities during the week included live CPR demonstration sessions, panel discussions, digital quizzes, and training programs across multiple platforms. A total of 14,701 participants joined the inaugural live pledge and CPR demonstration event through the ECHO platform and YouTube Live, while 79,870 individuals took a digital pledge through the MyGov platform. A panel discussion on “CPR Techniques and the Role of Bystanders” saw participation from six experts representing AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. RML Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and SGT Medical College, attended by 10,129 citizens online.
Extensive physical training sessions on Compression-only CPR were conducted nationwide by State and Union Territory health departments, Central Government Hospitals, AIIMS, Institutes of National Importance, the Indian Red Cross Society, and professional bodies. Nirman Bhawan hosted sessions for 264 Central Government employees, CISF personnel, housekeeping staff, and other officials, while a special training was organized for 70 Prime Minister’s Office officials on October 16.
Digital engagement played a key role in the awareness week. A CPR quiz conducted on MyGov and MyBharat platforms saw participation from 36,040 citizens, while 368 youths volunteered under the Volunteer for Bharat initiative to promote CPR awareness. Social media and digital campaigns, including expert interviews, educational videos, and IEC materials, generated widespread public engagement, with Doordarshan and DD News covering live demonstrations and expert discussions.