Page 10 - 151 Varsity Ebook

8 / PERISCOPE

Basic first-aid education - first aid
from ANYONE
lad from head-to-toe in blue
lycra fabric, “Anyone” is the
CFire Services Department’s
safety representative. The blue man-
nequin-like figure is featured in the
department’s series of promotional
videos demonstrating life-saving tech-
niques. His videos have become a vi-
ral sensation since his debut on social
media last August. Apart from being
an amusement for viewers, “Anyone”
has a serious message for the people
of Hong Kong – Anyone can help save
lives. Anyone in the city can learn to
administrate cardiopulmonary resus- Anyone teaches the general public about how to perform CPR and AED in a video
Screen Capture from the Fire Services Department's promotion video
citation (CPR) in times of emergency.
Over 5,000 cases of sudden cardiac
arrest were reported outside hospitals Over citizen to be equipped with proper
every year, and less than three per cent 5000 Median age first-aid skills in order to help peo-
of these patients survived from acute OHCA* cases of patients was ple in need when accidents happen.
heart attacks, according to a study by happened 80 “First-aid is the extension of doctors.
the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine outside hospitals years old It is necessary for citizens to learn this
every year
published in 2017. Only 29 per cent of basic knowledge,” he says.
patients having heart attacks were giv- Chung believes education is the
en CPR before the ambulance arrived. About 29% best way to promote the concept of
The Hong Kong St. John Ambu- Less than of the patients first-aid to the general public. St.
lance (St. John) is a charitable group of the patientes were given CPR John has been providing free first-aid
dedicated to promoting first-aid were alived and before an ambu- courses at both primary and second-
knowledge to the general public. dischorged lance arrived ary schools for the past few years, but
Chairman of the group Chung Chin- schools’ responses are not enthusias-
hung says it is important for every Source: the Hong Kong Academy of tic. Among the 400 primary schools
Medicine in 2017
in Hong Kong, only 70 of them have
enrolled in the first-aid courses pro-
vided by the organisation.
“The schools tell us their stu-
dents are too busy with their studies.
They do not have the time to take our
courses,” Chung says.

First aid is the extension
of doctors. It is necessary
for citizens to learn this
basic knowledge

Chung Chin-hung

* Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)