Make CPR a compulsory subject - Ang Lai Soon

KUCHING, June 24 (Bernama) – Sarawak St. John Ambulance chairman and commander Datuk Seri Ang Lai Soon has proposed that the teaching of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) be made compulsory in all schools and institutions of higher learning in the country.  

Ang, who is also a social activist, said these places of learning could incorporate the CPR training into their extracurricular activities.

“As this is a major health problem in the country, and not a political issue or project, I am confident that the Federal government will do the follow up by implementing this proposal as this exercise costs us very little, but will benefit thousands of people in the country, from the bottom of the social ladder right up to the very top,” he said in a statement here today.

He said Sarawak Minister of Welfare, Community Well-being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah had given her support to the idea of CPR being made a necessary skill for the youth to master.

According to him, Fatimah had said it could be incorporated as a component under the Physical and Health Education subject, and be made compulsory for students.

Ang was also confident that the Education Ministry would help to make this a reality in Sarawak.

People living in rural areas, particularly those in small villages, kampungs and the longhouses where medical help was not easily available would certainly find CPR skill very useful in times of emergencies, he said.

He said it would be a win-win situation because with more people trained in CPR, ambulances do not need to hold up traffic, and doctors and nurses and supporting staff are less stressed while millions of ringgit would be saved by the government and private sector,

“It is my hope and prayer that both the Federal and State governments will give the fullest support to the CPR training proposal and I also hope to see it implemented and included in the country's education system in the shortest possible time,” he added.

-- BERNAMA