Kerala nurses win praise for saving man with timely CPR after cardiac arrest
Kerala: Two nurses from Kerala have drawn widespread appreciation after their swift response helped save the life of a man who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while caught in traffic.
The incident occurred last month near a bridge in Ernakulam district, where traffic had come to a standstill. A nurse working at a private hospital, who was travelling with a nursing student, noticed a middle-aged man slumped inside his car. According to reports, the man had been attempting to drive himself to a hospital when he suffered the cardiac event.
Recognising the emergency, the two women immediately got off their bus and rushed to the scene. They administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and continued their efforts until further medical help arrived. Their timely intervention is believed to have played a critical role in stabilising the patient before he was shifted for advanced treatment.
The incident gained wider attention after a well-known industrialist shared the story on social media, commending the nurses for stepping in without hesitation. In the post, he highlighted the need for more individuals willing to act with such urgency in emergencies, and expressed admiration for their quick response.
The post struck a chord with social media users, many of whom highlighted the often understated contribution of nursing professionals in emergency care and called for wider public awareness of basic life-saving skills such as CPR.
The incident once again drew attention to the critical, though frequently overlooked, role nurses play beyond hospital settings. Trained in emergency response protocols, nursing professionals are often the first to recognise and act during medical crises, a fact borne out in this case, where prompt bystander CPR is widely regarded by medical experts as a key determinant of survival in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
“Nursing is a divine profession. The Art and Science of it has been perfected at Kerala like no where else. Phlebotomists too are a class apart in Kerala. Long live their tribe in the service of humanity,” one user commented.
“It’s truly commendable. Absolutely right Guruji, we need like them. I think everyone should be given training of giving CPR correctly and some other medical emergency trainings too,” another user wrote.
According to the Indian Express, the man, identified as a 43-year-old, suffered a heart attack while attempting to drive himself to a hospital. Anjali and Ardra, the two nurses, immediately administered CPR until further medical assistance arrived.
Medical professionals routinely emphasise that immediate CPR, administered within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can significantly improve a patient's chances of survival, underscoring the importance of public training in basic life support techniques, a point several social media users echoed in response to the Kerala incident.
