Gujarat sees 1,052 heart attack deaths in 6 months, 80 pc of deceased in 11-25 age group: Minister

Ahmedabad: A shocking number of 1052 persons have succumbed to heart attack in the last 6 months in the state of Gujarat, state education minister Kuber Dindor claimed here. The minister also informed that  80 per cent of those who died of heart attack belonged to the 11-25 age group who had little co-morbidities. 

In view of the rising number of heart attacks, nearly two lakh school teachers and college professors will be provided training in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a crucial lifesaving intervention during such medical emergencies, Dindor said.

Youngsters are living in fear because a majority of the heart attack victims were in their age group, he claimed.

“We have seen how people died (due to heart attack) while playing cricket or taking part in garba (a traditional dance form popular during Navratri festivities) in the last six or seven months. I urge teachers to take part in this CPR training camp so that they can save lives,” the minister said.

Under this initiative of the state Education Department, CPR training camps will be conducted at 37 medical colleges between December 3 and 17 to provide training to nearly two lakh school and college teachers, he said.

Some 2,500 medical experts and doctors will be present at these training camps and certificates will also be provided to the participants, Dindor added.

Such training was given earlier to Bharatiya Janata Party workers and police personnel in the state, he pointed out.