Indian Society of Electrocardiology Position Statement on Improving CPR Awareness in the Indian public.
Indian pacing and electrophysiology journal · 2026-07-27 · Guideline / consensus
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health challenge in India. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness, training, and bystander response rates remain critically low across the country. OBJECTIVE: This Indian Society of Electrocardiology position statement aims to promote nationwide CPR awareness, strengthen community response to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and improve survival in OHCA, with measures adapted to India-specific systems of care and bystander training. MAIN THEMES: The statement highlights the SCA burden, early recognition, rapid response, barriers to community CPR training in India, dispatcher-assisted CPR, and public access defibrillation (PAD). It emphasizes school-based CPR education, corporate social responsibility partnerships, legislative support, and development of a national CPR ecosystem. Role of digital innovations, mobile applications, virtual reality, mobile CPR training units, psychological barriers and the bystander effect are emphasized. CONCLUSION: The position statement advocates transforming CPR from a medical skill into a societal responsibility and improve OHCA survival in India.