Saving Lives Isn’t Just for Doctors: Why You Must Learn Basic Emergency Skills

Basic life-saving skills aren’t just useful — they’re essential in moments when panic takes over and no one knows what to do.

Have you ever imagined that while enjoying with your friends or family, suddenly someone collapses on the floor? What would you do? That person was fine just a few seconds before and suddenly collapsed. Most people would freeze or assume that the person is simply unconscious. They might splash water on their face continuously and call an ambulance very late. Sadly, that delay often leads to death — just because no one knew what exactly happened and what to do?

After reading this, you might be shocked — how a person who was laughing and enjoying suddenly falls into a life-and-death situation. This happens because of a lack of awareness. We are not even aware of the emergencies that could come our way. In the situation above, where the person needed CPR immediately, they were treated by just splashing water. Lack of knowledge costs lives.

How many of you know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? Very few, I guess. How many of you know what to do if someone starts choking, or someone is heavily bleeding after an accident, or how to save someone who gets an electric shock? The list goes on. It’s a big concern. If these situations occur and our society is not ready to give first aid, the chances of survival decrease terribly. We Indians, to be very honest, take life very lightly, and that’s why these skills are not taught in our schools. We are taught everything from trigonometry to Shakespeare, but we are not taught something that is actually critical — how to save a life.

I was also not aware of such things. But one day, I came across a video where a girl was dancing at a wedding. Everyone was enjoying, including her, but suddenly she collapsed on the ground because of cardiac arrest. That moment made me realize how unpredictable life truly is. If someone there had known how to give proper first aid, maybe she would be alive today among us. This video shook me and made me realize how important it is to learn basic life-saving skills like CPR, first aid for choking, electric shock, heavy bleeding, dog bites, snake bites, and even surviving natural disasters.

Another time, I read a story about a little boy who started choking on a candy during a school function. Hundreds of people were there, but no one knew what to do. They kept patting his back and panicking until it was too late. One simple Heimlich maneuver could have saved his life, but no one had even heard of it properly.

I also heard about a case where during a rainy evening, a man got electric shock. People gathered around him, some even tried to pull him with bare hands — not realizing they could get shocked too. If just one person had known how to cut the current safely and start CPR, maybe he would have survived.After these incidents, I decided to learn these essential life-saving skills. Not because I wanted a certificate or a medal, but because I realized it’s my responsibility as a citizen and a human being.

So, I also want you to realize how important these skills are. And trust me, they are not rocket science. Even a 10-year-old child can understand and apply them. It just requires a little time, a little effort, and a lot of heart.

You don’t need a certificate or a formal course. Just search for tutorial videos on YouTube, read articles, and practice understanding the steps. First learn yourself, and then teach others — your friends, your colleagues, your family. Whether you are a student, a teacher, an employee, a boss, or a housekeeper, you can inspire others to be prepared too. Because who knows? Tomorrow, your simple effort might save someone’s life. Maybe even someone you love.

I genuinely pray that none of you ever face such situations. But being prepared early is always better than regretting later.

In the end, I would like to say —
“Do you want to be the person who just stands and watches, feeling helpless and guilty when your loved one or even a stranger suffers… or do you want to be the real-life hero who steps forward and saves a life? The choice is yours.”

A Tool I Personally Recommend: The 112 India App

While learning life-saving skills is vital, having fast access to help matters just as much. That’s why I want to share about the 112 India app — a powerful emergency app launched by the government that works across every state and union territory in India. I’ve downloaded it myself, and it’s super easy to use. Whether it’s police, fire, or ambulance, this app connects you instantly and shares your exact location, so help reaches you faster. It even has a special “SHOUT” feature designed especially for women and children to get quick support from nearby volunteers. Trust me, knowing about and using this app can make all the difference in a crisis. It’s one simple way to be prepared and feel safer every day.

📄 Free PDF — Learn & Share Life-Saving Skills
I’ve created a simple, powerful PDF with links to essential emergency responses like CPR, choking, bleeding, and more.
Download it. Learn it. And please — share it.
Send it to your WhatsApp groups, friends, family, colleagues — anyone.
One forward today could save a life tomorrow.

NOTE: Make sure you open this pdf in Google Drive or WPS office for getting access to clickable links.