India's Massive CPR Awareness Week Engages Over 747,000 Citizens

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted a nationwide CPR Awareness Week from October 13-17, 2025, training 6,06,374 individuals in Compression-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. This initiative aimed to tackle India's low bystander CPR rates by promoting CPR training, enhancing public readiness, and engaging diverse population groups through digital platforms.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare spearheaded a pan-India CPR Awareness Week from October 13 to 17, 2025, targeting the enhancement of public comprehension and capability in Compression-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The initiative witnessed extensive training sessions conducted nationwide by State and UT health departments, Central Government Hospitals, AIIMS, the Indian Red Cross Society, and professional bodies, training a formidable 6,06,374 participants.

This week-long campaign was tailored to educate citizens on the significance of prompt bystander intervention during cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies. Although CPR possesses proven life-saving capabilities, India's bystander CPR rates fall short of global standards. The Ministry endeavored to bridge this gap by proliferating CPR training, awareness, and behavioral preparedness among diverse demographic groups.

The CPR Awareness Week unfolded with goals to amplify public consciousness about CPR as an essential life-saving measure, extend practical training through varied stakeholders, mobilize youth involvement in community readiness, and leverage digital platforms for expansive public outreach. State and Union Territory Health Departments played a pivotal role in orchestrating field-level training.

Key ministries including Home Affairs, Defence, and Labour & Employment, among others, contributed to extending outreach to various societal segments. The Indian Red Cross Society and professional bodies galvanized community-based training efforts, complementing digital outreach strengthened through MyGov and MyBharat platforms.

Throughout the week, multifaceted engagements ensured widespread participation, highlighted by the inaugural live pledge event which drew 14,701 attendees via the ECHO platform and YouTube Live. A digital pledge was also encouraged, gathering 79,870 commitments. In addition, a panel discussion titled "CPR Techniques and the Role of Bystanders" engaged over 10,129 participants with expert insights from notable medical institutions.

Comprehensive training extended to Central Government personnel at Nirman Bhawan and 70 officials from the Prime Minister's Office, showcasing active efforts to instill CPR proficiency. A CPR Quiz on MyGov platforms attracted 36,040 participants. The week also featured extensive social media engagement, with educational videos and expert interviews broadening CPR's public awareness.

The culmination of these extensive activities, including a CPR demonstration covered by multiple news agencies, saw over 7,47,000 citizens engaged and more than 6,06,374 individuals trained nationwide, marking a significant stride in CPR learning and public readiness across India.

(With inputs from agencies.)