Two city health institutions started a program yesterday that provides first-aid training for patients with cardiovascular disease, their families and police officers.

Luwan District residents learn how to resuscitate heart attack victims yesterday in a community training course at Ruijin Hospital.

Cardiac arrest is the main cause of sudden death for people with coronary heart disease, and effective resuscitation can often save lives.

The training is a collaborative effort by Ruijin Hospital and the Luwan District Health Bureau. It's part of their campaign to provide more comprehensive services to people with common diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer and cardiovascular and cerebral ailments.

"Professional training for community doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease started last month," said Dr Zhao Liebin, who's in charge of the project at Ruijin Hospital. "A recent survey found that 60 percent of the 600-odd at-home patients in Luwan, whose community doctors offer treatment at patient residences, suffer cardiovascular disease."

Since 70 to 80 percent of heart attacks take place outside a hospital and less than 1 percent of such patients are saved in China, the hospital decided to provide education and training in first-aid skills to community doctors, ambulance staff, patients, family members and police patrol officers.

"The first four to five minutes after a cardiac arrest is the golden period for a patient's survival," Zhao said. Pre-hospital therapy is extremely crucial in the entire emergency treatment system. Promoting basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill will help save patients' lives and enhance the life quality of survivors. The skill can be learned in three to four hours of lectures and practice, he said.

(Shanghai Daily September 26, 2008)