Nigerians told to adopt cardiac pulmonary resuscitation to prevent deaths

Nigerians have been told to adopt cardiac pulmonary resuscitation method for individuals that suddenly collapse and desist from pouring water on them, pouring oil inside their mouth, or stocking a spoon into the mouth in a bid to revive them.

Dr Godwin Efe, a senior registrar at the Anaesthesia and Critical Care Department of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, gave the charge at a health awareness outreach to two secondary schools in Ibadan to mark 2024 World Anaesthesia Day and the World “Restart a Heart Day”.

It was to educate the students of Oba Akinbiyi School 1, Mokola Hill, and All Souls College at Bodija on lifesaving skills following a sudden heart arrest.

Dr Efe said it was important that Nigerians, irrespective of age, learn how to carry out cardiac pulmonary resuscitation because of its importance in restoring oxygen supply to the brain when a person suddenly collapses.

“It is a basic skill that everyone must know because cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and even in a person that you did not expect. Without oxygen supply to the brain, within four to eight minutes, the brain will stop working, and then the person will not be able to recover again.

“The heart pumps blood to the brain and other parts of the body, and that is why you have to start chest compression to jumpstart the heart as well as resuscitation of breathing while the person is made to lie flat on the floor.

“When individuals collapse, people pour water on them, and some put a spoon or pour oil inside their mouth. Some start to post on social media instead of calling for help and starting simple things that can save the life.

“When you put oil inside the person’s mouth, the oil is going to enter the lungs, and that will cause what is called aspiration. If you put a spoon inside the mouth, it can even break the teeth.”

Dr Temiloluwa Adeyanju, the Chief Resident for the Anaesthesia and Critical Care Department, said it is important that Nigerians be able to identify a person that had heart arrest and be proactive in instituting cardiac pulmonary resuscitation to restore oxygen supply to their brains and prevent death while a call is made for help.

The Principal of Oba Akinbiyi School 1, Mokola Hill, Mrs Omolara Adesiyan, appreciated UCH Ibadan for the awareness programme to the school, stating that it was beneficial both to the students and the teachers in the school.

Read Also: Users lament as App Store goes down in USA