Under the guidance of Dr. Jaya Lalwani, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur, a series of public awareness and educational activities were organized on the occasion of World Anesthesia Day. Faculty members Dr. Pratiksha Agarwal, Dr. Manjulata Tandon, Dr. A. Shashank, Dr. Amrita Jain, and Dr. Shahida Khatoon actively participated and supported the event. The objective of these programs was to raise public awareness of life-saving skills and highlight the crucial role of anesthesia in safe surgery.
- Live demonstration of Panchrakshak at Railway Station
In the first episode of the programme, a live demonstration of life-saving skills was organised at Raipur Railway Station from 6:30 am to 7:30 am under the Panchrakshak campaign. Experts demonstrated the technique of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Passengers and common citizens present at the railway station enthusiastically participated in the hands-on exercise and learnt the basic techniques of administering CPR in emergency situations. The objective of this initiative was to motivate the public to provide prompt help in emergencies and save precious lives.
- Awareness about anaesthesia through walkathon
After this, an awareness walkathon was organised from Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Smriti Medical College to Nagar Ghadi Chowk. ISA State Branch President Dr. S. Dasgupta, Secretary Dr. Jaya Lalwani, ISA City Branch President Dr. Vivek Goyal and Secretary Dr. Siddharth Agarwal along with doctors and representatives participated in it. Through the walkathon, the general public was told that anaesthesia is not limited to just giving unconsciousness during operation, but is an integral part of patient safety, pain control and safe treatment.
- Panchrakshak Competition and Poster Exhibition in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium
In the next series of the program, a poster exhibition and competition of undergraduate students was organized in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium under the theme Panchrakshak. The theme of the poster exhibition was “Before, During and Beyond Surgery”, through which the students presented in a creative manner the important role of anesthesia in the safety of the patient before, during and after the operation.
- Five major life-saving skills were included under the Panchrakshak campaign:-
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR/COLS): Life-saving assistance in the event of cardiac arrest.
Choking Management (Heimlich Manoeuvre): Immediate help for a foreign object stuck in the throat.
Syncope Management: Proper first aid in case of fainting.
Trauma & Bleeding Control: Immediate help in case of injury and bleeding.
Emergency Activation & Golden Hour Response: Activating emergency services and ensuring timely treatment.
Groups of five undergraduate students each competed in a competition based on these five life-saving skills. The goal was to develop practical skills, team spirit, quick decision-making, and effective response to emergency situations.
Present on this occasion were Dr. S.B.S. Netam, Dean-in-Charge of the Medical College, Dr. Jyoti Jaiswal, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Varsha Mungutwar, Head of the ENT Department, Dr. Nidhi Pandey, Head of the Ophthalmology Department, and Dr. Manju Singh, Head of the Surgery Department. All encouraged the students’ educational and public awareness activities.
- Message of life saving and safe surgery
Through these activities organized on World Anaesthesia Day, an effort was made to take medical services outside hospitals to the general public and to increase awareness about safe surgery among medical students. Live demonstration of CPR at the railway station, walkathon and Panchrakshak competition spread the message of life saving skills, patient safety and the important role of anaesthesiologists to the society. The program gave the message that life saving assistance given at the right time can save a life and safe anaesthesia is the basis of better surgery.