CPR Day in Masjid

CPR Day in Masjid

Well today I had a class on CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) the quality CPR so we had a briefing on it and a few explanation was given by my doctor and we went on to the practicals,so our doctor gave us a few scenario to act out incase of emergency and I was lucky number one to act out.So its the day I learned the full proper way of CPR so I thought of sharing my first hand experience in doing CPR in a mosque.Yeah really in the mosque after friday prayers.

The reason for this post is not to show that I know CPR or I saved someone but the difficulties I undergone in doing it.The stimulated scenarios today was an easy scenario given by my doctor but when you are outside with no medical equipment and no medical professional beside you the scenario is totally different.Doing it on hospital is okay as you know that your medical team is there for rescue and you have your specialist as your back up if anything goes wrong but on the field when you are the only one the whole hope of saving a life falls on you and that's a very big commitment.

Here is my story

There was this one day I was riding my motorbike back home on friday as I was passing by this one mosque where there were a lot of crowd in the mosque,as a typical Malaysian we really want to know what is happening when its crowded so I went to see and I get to know that one of the devotee in the mosque collapsed during the friday prayers and he was unconscious and not breathing.He collapsed in prostration (a position where muslims bow down to pray)

So I voluntereed myself saying I am medical student (I was in my 4th year that time) and I can help.So the person next to me start shouting " doctor dah sampai semua orang lalu  doctor dah sampai !!! " I was shocked by his reaction and he brought me to the mosque incharge I guess it should be the Ustad so the ustad called me in to help the victim I was stunned and said "Ustad saya orang tamil boleh masuk ke?? " and he replied "Boleh doctor, doctor boleh masuk " and I went in he was stilll in prostration undisturbed and I was controlling the crowd to move away (crowd management is one of the vital thing in CPR as you don't want many people to near you) and I check the surrounding for my safety as your safety is the number one priority and I checked him he was unconscious and not responding.He was not breathing and his carotid pulse was absent (the pulse you feel in the neck)

Then I ordered a few people to come near me and see what I'm doing so that when I'm exhausted they can take my place and do the CPR till the ambulance arrived.Talking about ambulance no one actually called the ambulance till that time and I asked a man to call the ambulance and I wanted to start the CPR as soon as possible as 10 minutes is the time and beyond that brain death can occur.The man replied "Doctor saya tak tahu nombor ambulance dan saya tak tahu nak cakap apa" I literally had no help and I have to call 999 (this is our hospital emergency number take note) and I explained to them the situation and requested for an AED (automated external defibrillator) and they replied doctor proceed with the CPR help is on the way.I was literallly wasting my time calling where I should be starting CPR.TIME IS VITAL IN CARDIAC ARREST.Every seconds count !!! 

I removed his shirt to prevent any tightness and I did the chin lift (for non medical people you can omit this step as you don't know the patient had neck trauma or not) Do not move the neck if you are not sure you can cause more problem.

I did the 30 compression to 2 puff (if you are not sure of the person medical background you can skip the mouth to mouth breathing as you can transmit a disease to yourself) for 5 cycle (this count as 1 round) and check for pulse it was still absent and I did the 2nd round.I had no one to help me count or to time it as I don't want to waste time explaining and delay the CPR.Trust me CPR is a tiring process and by the end of 2nd round I was exhausted and the patient was still unconscious and I know he was not death (don't ask me how but I do) my shoulder was numb and luckily the Ustad take over from me and I was resting for a while but he was not doing the CPR the proper way I do not blame him for that as I know his not a medical person so continued till the ambulance arrive.

The MA run towards me and took over my place and the nurse hand over me the AED and asked me to operate it.At that time I don't know how to use it as I had no class on it so I requested the MA to do it.So he was fixing the machine and I continued the CPR and just before the shock phewwwwww the patient responded by gasping for air and he was back to conscious and he was breathing.Thank god and I was relieved when I see him waking up. The Almighty God thank you for your help and I put him on recovery position and a few people suggested to give him water and I refused them not to do so.The patient was carried to the ambulance and the MA thanked me and asked me to follow in the ambulance but I refused since I had work that time.The story doesn't end here this is where the real meaning starts

Everyone should learn CPR and a few other basic first aid measure because you won't know who will collapse infront of you and it can happen any time and you have a very limited time,you don't have to be a doctor or medical profession to save lives,a simple first aid can mean alot.You are doing a huge favour for that victim and you are a hero Yes !!! hero's don't wear cape or lab coat all the times they can be anyone even YOU.If you are seeing a person doing CPR you can help them or ask for help.If you are in a mall or airport you can ask for an AED yes they do have it and many of us don't know this.

I would urge everyone to learn CPR and a few other first aid as you wont know when will a person collapse due to cardiac arrest infront of you and you can be a life saver rather then watching and walking away thats a sin.There are many courses done by many NGO's and hospitals regarding this and learn them.It is very usefull.Doing CPR alone is hard and I stayed in the mosque nearly 15 minutes plus just to recover from shoulder pain.So go save a life.Regarding the methods you can google from any WHO or KKM website all are same or you can visit my blog for futher details on CPR. 

Thank you.