In a bid to reduce preventable deaths from cardiac arrest, Nigerians have been encouraged to adopt the practice of Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as a life saving method instead of relying on harmful traditional methods like pouring water or oil on collapsed individuals. Dr. Godwin Efe, a senior registrar at the Anaesthesia and Critical Care Department of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, made this call during a health awareness outreach in Ibadan.
The outreach, which was part of the 2024 World Anaesthesia Day and World Restart a Heart Day celebrations, aimed to educate secondary school students on life saving skills. Students from Oba Akinbiyi School 1, Mokola Hill, and All Souls College, Bodija, were taught CPR techniques to handle sudden heart arrests effectively.
Dr. Efe emphasized the importance of learning CPR for people of all ages, noting that it is crucial for restoring oxygen supply to the brain when someone collapses. Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, even to individuals you least expect, he explained. Without immediate intervention, the brain can begin to suffer irreversible damage within four to eight minutes.
He also warned against dangerous practices such as pouring water on collapsed individuals or inserting objects like spoons into their mouths, which can lead to further complications such as aspiration or broken teeth. Instead, he advised the public to focus on chest compressions to restart the heart while waiting for professional medical help.
Dr. Temiloluwa Adeyanju, Chief Resident at UCH's Anaesthesia and Critical Care Department, added that it is vital for Nigerians to be proactive in identifying cardiac arrest cases and administering CPR promptly. She stressed that this knowledge could save lives by maintaining oxygen supply to the brain while help is on the way.
The Principal of Oba Akinbiyi School 1, Mrs. Omolara Adesiyan, expressed gratitude to UCH Ibadan for the awareness program, stating that the training would benefit both students and teachers.
By promoting CPR as a basic skill that everyone should know, the campaign aims to reduce preventable deaths from cardiac arrest and encourage a culture of immediate, life-saving intervention across Nigeria.