Mid-air medical emergencies: City airport trains flyers, staff with life-saving skills
The Statesman | 18 October 2025In another incident, a middle-aged passenger suffered a sudden cardiac arrest mid-air on a Kolkata-bound flight and the crew’s timely CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) helped stabilise him until the aircraft landed. The incident served as a stark reminder of how a few minutes — and a few trained hands — can make the difference between life and death. It’s precisely this awareness that the Airport Health Organization (APHO), Kolkata, in collaboration with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), sought to spread this week as part of the ministry of health and family welfare’s nationwide initiative — “CPR Awareness Week” (13-17 October) — at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, Kolkata.
The programme, aimed to equip airport stakeholders, staff, and even passengers with the critical lifesaving skill of CPR – an emergency procedure that maintains blood circulation and breathing when the heart stops beating. Throughout the week, a series of activities transformed the bustling NSCBI airport into a hub of health awareness. The initiative featured the inauguration of CPR Awareness Week, a pledge ceremony, interactive sessions, hands-on training, and the display of educational materials and videos provided by the ministry of health. Informative leaflets and pamphlets were distributed to passengers, while a dedicated CPR kiosk was set up at the International Arrival Terminal.
The kiosk was inaugurated today by P R Beuria, airport director, NSCBI Airport, who also inspected the arrangements, interacted with trainers and participants, and took part in a demonstration session himself. “Timely CPR can save precious lives in emergency situations. Such awareness initiatives help equip both passengers and airport staff with vital lifesaving skills. We are proud to support this national campaign and encourage everyone to learn and practice CPR,” Dr Beuria said. The response to the initiative was overwhelming. Over 510 personnel from various airport stakeholders — including AAI officials, Immigration, Cargo (Domestic and International), CISF, airline staff, and APHO Kolkata staff — received hands-on CPR training.
Additionally, 100 yellow fever vaccine beneficiaries were trained, and around 5,000 passengers were sensitised through pamphlet distribution and awareness videos. The APHO has also ensured that 3–4 trained officers remain deployed at the airport round-the-clock, ready to respond to any medical emergency requiring CPR. Airport officials noted that in the past year alone, there have been multiple medical emergencies involving passengers, some of which were cardiac in nature. “Having CPR-trained personnel available within minutes can make all the difference,” said an official from the health unit. The CPR Awareness Week, part of a broader national campaign by the ministry of health and family welfare, underscores the government’s focus on community preparedness and emergency response. Airports, being high-footfall zones, are now seen as crucial points for public health sensitisation. For travellers like Ananya Ghosh, who was en route to Singapore and happened to witness one of the demonstrations, the initiative struck a personal chord. “I never realised how simple CPR could be — and how vital. Watching it live gave me the confidence that I could help if someone collapsed near me,” she said.
As air travel continues to grow, the Kolkata airport’s proactive participation in this campaign highlights a vital shift — from managing passenger flow to safeguarding passenger lives. The message from this week’s event was clear and resounding: every minute counts, and every trained hand can save a life.
