NT BUZZ
The Family Apostolate Animation Team of the Parish of St. Francis Xavier, Duler recently organised ‘Heart Hero’ workshop on Compression Only Life Support (COLS) – an initiative spearheaded by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Goa Unit, and promoted by the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF).
Over 70 people attended the workshop which was initiated in keeping with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, who is often called upon as the guardian of health. Chairman of the WAF Lester Melo reaffirmed WAF’s commitment to such initiatives that nurture spiritual and social responsibility within the community.
The workshop focused on empowering ordinary citizens to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. Emphasising that the first three minutes after a sudden collapse are critical, the session highlighted how timely chest compressions by a family member or bystander can significantly improve survival outcomes before medical help arrives. Participants actively engaged and were trained in the simple, practical technique that can be performed confidently in real-life situations. Each person got a chance to practice the technique on a mannequin, and were given tips and corrective remarks from the doctor present, making it a deeply practical learning experience.
The hands-on training was led by a team of doctors, including president of IMA Bardez branch Dr. Sandeep Naik, along with Dr. Shailesh Hede and Dr. Hemant Parsekar who shared their expertise in emergency response, trauma care, and life support.
