Only 1 out of 5 with cardiac arrest given help....

As I read the caption for the article, I was taken aback by the number "1". "What about the other 4?" That was my immediate response to it.

Heart attack, or otherwise known as myocardial infarction, is the number killer disease in Singapore. It is not fatal, if a trained first-aider or medical officer gives help, in the form of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), instantaneously. As the government is encouraging the learning of first aid, so that every household and workplace has at least one first-aider, many trained personnel are not seen to give assistance in times of need. Why do these people, who are qualified to save another’s life, acquit themselves as merely by-standers?

In my opinion, the main reason should be the lack of confidence and exposure. The training that these first-aiders went through was not factual enough to prepare them for real-time accidents. Hence, when faced with actual casualties, they are not poised to render help, in fear that they will worsen the condition of the casualties instead of helping them. As a first-aider myself, I can understand the worry and concerns of these trained personnel, especially those without experience. No matter how much we practise what we learnt, the stress when confronted with an unconscious person is absolutely poles apart from what we usually do.

Therefore, in order to build up this confidence of our lifesavers, the training provided should be more practical-based rather than theory-based. Also, they should be given the chance to access simulated cases, with the intention that they will be unperturbed and primed to lend a hand in times of emergency. In this way, not only will we be able to save those who are on the verge of death, on a bigger picture, we will be more geared up in face of a disaster or crisis.