Launch of Project HEART India at Bhashyam High School Main Campus, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
In a historic moment in the field of resuscitation, particularly in community CPR training in India, Project HEART India (High School Education and Awareness for Resuscitation Training) launched its training program for high school students of Bhashyam High School, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, in high-quality CPR.
Project HEART India is an Indo-US collaborative project focused on training in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The project is jointly organized by the Srinivasa Heart Foundation, Warangal, Telangana, India, and the National India Hub, Community and CPR Training Center, Schaumburg, Illinois, USA.
Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Illinois, USA, is the Founder (USA) and Advisor of Project HEART India. He also serves as the Honorary Advisor to the Srinivasa Heart Foundation.
Dr. Srinivas Ramaka is the Project Co-founder, Project Director, and India and Telangana State Coordinator. The primary aim of the project is to train high school students in India in CPR using regional languages.
Participant students are trained in high-quality hands-only CPR and the use of AEDs. The project seeks to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by increasing bystander CPR rates.
With the launch of this project, Andhra Pradesh becomes the first state, Guntur the first city, and Bhashyam High School the first school in India where Project HEART India has officially commenced.
Dr. Kodali Lavanya is the Project Coordinator for Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Maheshwar Parvat serves as an advisor to the project, and Arjun Kodali is the Research Associate.
A special program marking the launch was held on August 1st at the educational campus of Bhashyam High School, Guntur. Dr. Kodali Lavanya welcomed the guests.
The lamp-lighting ceremony was conducted by:
- Sri Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar, MLA, Ponnur Constituency
- Dr. S. S. V. Ramana, Superintendent, Guntur General Hospital
- Dr. Vijayalakshmi, District Medical and Health Officer, Guntur
- Sri Bhashyam Rama Krishna, Chairman, Bhashyam Educational Institutions
- Dr. Srinivas Ramaka
- Dr. Kodali Lavanya
Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy delivered his message virtually from the USA. Dr. Srinivas Ramaka provided an update on the work done in the field of community CPR training by Srinivasa Heart Foundation since 2009.
A video in Telugu explaining hands-only CPR and the use of AEDs was screened during the program.
Several distinguished guests, including Sri Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar and Smt. Galla Madhavi, MLA, Guntur, addressed the audience. They emphasized the crucial role of community CPR training in saving the lives of cardiac arrest victims. They also appreciated the efforts of Team Project HEART India for taking the lead in launching this vital initiative in Andhra Pradesh and in Guntur.
Pamphlets on Community CPR in both Telugu and English were released by the guests during the event.
Around 500 high school students, along with several faculty members, received training in high-quality hands-only CPR and AED use. Dr. Varun and his team played an instrumental role in conducting the training program.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Sri Haribabu of Bhashyam High School.
It is planned to train 3,000 high school students in the next 10 days in hands-only CPR.
Following this successful launch in Guntur, the project is set to expand to Warangal, Telangana, and later to other Indian states.
When Young Hands Learn to Save Lives: A Historic Step from Guntur to the Nation
In a heartfelt address from Chicago, USA, Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, co-founder of Project HEART India, expressed pride and gratitude as the pioneering Indo-U.S. initiative launched its first high school CPR and AED training program in India. Along with co-founder Dr. Srinivas Ramaka from India, the mission of the project is to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and improve survival rates through hands-on CPR and defibrillator training. The project is specially designed for high school students, who represent the younger generation and future leaders of the country. By training them in both regional languages and English, the program aims to create a wide-reaching impact, equipping students with the skills to respond immediately and effectively in cardiac emergencies.
Dr. Murthy emphasized that Indians, particularly South Asians, face a higher risk of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death than any other ethnic group globally. Through this collaborative effort, resuscitation experts from India and the U.S. will work together to provide high-quality, evidence-based training adapted to Indian conditions and available resources. He extended sincere thanks to the dignitaries, educational leaders of Bhashyam Educational Institutions, and the Indo-U.S. CPR team for their roles in making this historic event a reality. The launch at Bhashyam High School, Guntur marks a significant milestone, making it the first school in India to begin the “million-plus life-saver” training program in Telugu, and setting a benchmark for educational institutions across the country.
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