Murjanatu Abdullahi, Kaduna.
An anaesthesiologist and emergency medical expert, Dr Ifeanyi Aghadi, has emphasised the critical importance of immediate response during a cardiac arrest, stating that resuscitation must occur within the first five minutes to prevent irreversible brain damage.
Speaking shortly after the launch of a Non-governmental organisation focused on emergency response by a family who lost two family members to separate incidents involving cardiac arrest and armed robbery in Lagos and Kaduna, Dr Aghadi stressed that timing is everything when it comes to saving lives.
He disclosed that “The golden window for resuscitating a cardiac arrest patient is three to five minutes.”
Added that, “Once the brain is deprived of oxygen beyond that period, the damage becomes permanent. The person may become what we medically call a vegetable.”
Dr Aghadi explained further that sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, and recognizing the signs early is crucial.”
“We often talk about sudden cardiac arrest, but what is most important is knowing how to respond immediately. ”
“As our people say, prevention is better than cure,” he added.
He further stated that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which includes chest compressions and ventilation (rescue breathing), is a life-saving intervention that anyone can learn.
“CPR involves two key systems—the heart and the lungs. Chest compressions are the most critical part.
“When done properly at a rate of 120 compressions per minute, they can keep blood flowing to vital organs like the brain, heart, and kidneys until emergency help arrives,” he said.
He noted that while ventilation is helpful, chest compressions alone can significantly improve a patient’s chances of survival.
“The Almighty God conveniently positioned the heart between the sternum and the spine, so chest compressions allow us to manually pump blood to keep the brain alive.
“Even without rescue breaths, there’s enough oxygen in the blood to sustain the brain temporarily,” he said.
Dr. Aghadi urged Nigerians to take emergency response training seriously, noting that a basic understanding of CPR could make the difference between life and death.
He, however, concluded that, “We can not always wait for medical professionals to arrive. Every second counts. If more people are trained in basic CPR, we can save countless lives.”