Hands-on Training Camp on Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid for the Malekudiya community, Bantwal Taluk

The Department of Public Health (NSS-16), in collaboration with the Department of Cardiovascular Technology and the Department of Trauma Care Management, organized a Hands-on Training Camp on Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid for the Malekudiya community on 7th December 2025 at Ambedkar Bhavan, Bantwal Taluk, as part of the NSS program. The session aimed to empower the community with essential skills to respond effectively during medical emergencies like cardiovascular arrest and fractures. Participants were given practical demonstrations on Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid fracture management. CPR, bleeding control, and basic first aid techniques were the objectives of this program.

The training was organized among the Malekudiya Tribes of Dakshin Kannada. These tribal communities live in rural, isolated areas, where access to health services is limited. In such a situation, CPR support can help in reducing the incidence of mortality due to cardiac arrest. CPR training was one of the low-cost interventions at the community level to raise awareness as one of the prevention strategy for cardiac arrest. This capacity-building program, designed for people from every walk of life, offered participants a valuable platform to learn CPR as a life-saving technique.

Mr. Balakrishna from the Malekudiya tribe graced the valedictory session of the program. Some of the feedback from the participants was: “It was an eye-opener program, significant for us.” “We need this kind of program.” The program was valuable in enhancing their confidence and preparedness to act in emergency situations.