The Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE) held a first aid training session for expats in Savills Residence Daxin Shenzhen Bay on Saturday.

The training featured foreign instructor Dr. Vikalp Jadav Vadathya from Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital, who taught essential skills like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using automated external defibrillators (AED). Dr. Vadathya is affectionately called Dr. Huang by his colleagues.

The on-site session attracted 30 Chinese and foreign residents, while the online livestream garnered over 800 views.

Before explaining CPR techniques, Dr. Vadathya highlighted the importance of understanding the entire process from cardiac arrest to brain death and the potential outcomes based on the actions taken during a medical emergency.

During the session, Dr. Vadathya also emphasized the existence of a law in China that protects good Samaritans. He reassured everyone that, when encountering someone in need of first aid, they should not hesitate to act, and should not worry about any legal liabilities in case of an unfortunate outcome.

Following explanations and demonstrations, participants carried out practical exercises under the guidance of trained medical professionals. They learned to assess the situation, check for responsiveness, call for help, assess pulse and breathing, and conduct proper chest compressions.

Shafiei Ehsan, an Iranian post-doctoral researcher from the Southern University of Science and Technology, who recently arrived in Shenzhen for a two-year project, praised Shekou MSCE’s initiative. “Every event that Shekou MSCE organized is meaningful and I hope to be more involved in future events,” he said.

Statistics from the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases indicate that approximately 550,000 people, or around 1,500 individuals per day, die from sudden cardiac arrest in China each year, with 87% of these incidents occurring outside hospitals. Immediate CPR can improve the chances of survival after cardiac arrest, potentially doubling or tripling the likelihood of survival.