As it celebrates World Restart A Heart Day with the international community, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Saturday, Oct. 16, urged everyone to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR.

“CPR is a lifesaving technique that is useful in emergencies, such as a heart attack or near drowning, in which an individual's breathing or heartbeat has stopped,” PRC said.

As the pandemic rages on, World Restart A Heart Day is important and relevant as cardiac arrests have not stopped while the world is battling coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Despite the pandemic, PRC said that people can still perform CPR without getting infected.

Safety Services, PRC's service arm for first aid and basic life support training, says that hands-only CPR greatly reduces the risk of catching an infection, and without intervention, it's unlikely the person in cardiac arrest will survive.

“You can also save lives if you have knowledge on first aid and on how to perform CPR. PRC offers training for individuals and groups,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Dick Gordon said.

For this year alone, the PH Red Cross Safety Services has already trained 38,710 individuals in First Aid and Basic Life Support with CPR.

These individuals were trained at various PRC Chapters and training centers nationwide. This has been achieved even during the pandemic and its lockdown restrictions.

“If there's one in each household trained in CPR, it will make a big difference,” Gordon said. “Two hands can save a life,” he added.

For training inquiries, interested parties may send email to the Safety Services of PH Red Cross at [email protected] / [email protected]