A basic life support workshop in Panchkula has trained citizens in CPR, automated external defibrillator use and trauma first aid, as PGIMER doctors and the Chandigarh Citizen Foundation seek to strengthen the first response available before emergency medical help arrives.
The programme was organised by the Chandigarh Citizen Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at PGIMER, Chandigarh, at Amartex Industries Ltd in Industrial Area Phase I, Panchkula. Held under Project Basic Life Support, the session focused on enabling ordinary residents and workers to respond when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest or collapses nearby.
The organisers said prompt intervention is critical during a cardiac emergency, with action within the first ten minutes significantly improving the chances of survival. The programme therefore emphasised early recognition of cardiac arrest, activation of emergency medical services and the immediate start of high-quality chest compressions.
Chief guest Gen VP Malik (Retd), president of the Chandigarh Citizen Foundation, addressed the gathering and highlighted the Foundation’s focus on community welfare and citizen empowerment. Dr Kajal Jain provided an overview of the course and underlined the need to equip citizens with practical life-saving skills rather than leaving the initial response entirely to medical professionals.
The 75-minute scientific and practical programme was conducted by a PGIMER team comprising Dr Kajal Jain, Dr Preethy Mathew and Dr Jeetinder K. Makkar. During the session, Dr Ajay Singh explained how and when people should respond to a collapsed person in their vicinity.
Dr Ishita Sood demonstrated single-rescuer and two-rescuer chest compression techniques and explained when, where and how to use an automated external defibrillator. The training was designed to address the period between the onset of a medical emergency and the arrival of professional assistance, when immediate action by people at the scene can be critical.
The workshop also covered first aid in major trauma. Dr Karan Singla explained measures to control severe bleeding, safely handle and move injured people to prevent secondary injuries, and follow essential precautions when elderly people suffer slips and falls at home. The organisers presented these skills as part of a broader response framework for emergencies in workplaces, neighbourhoods and households.
The programme concluded with a 30-minute hands-on session across multiple skill stations. Participants practised chest compressions on manikins under the supervision of PGIMER faculty, allowing them to build confidence and receive guidance on technique.
The workshop’s focus on practical training places citizen response at the centre of emergency preparedness in Panchkula. Project Basic Life Support is being used by the Chandigarh Citizen Foundation and PGIMER to take this instruction beyond hospitals and into community settings. The report did not specify the number of participants trained or announce the date of the next workshop.
