On 2nd June 2026, the Ashvin Education and Research Foundation conducted a hands-on Bystander CPR workshop for high school teachers at Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore. Fifty-five teachers spent the afternoon learning not just a skill, but a responsibility — how to act in those first few minutes when a heart stops, before an ambulance arrives.
The session was led by Dr Krishna and Dr Arunya, who volunteered their time and expertise for the Foundation. Their approach was simple and practical: no heavy theory, just clear steps, repeated practice, and space for questions that teachers actually have in a school setting.
We chose teachers for a reason. In a school, a teacher is often the first adult at the scene, whether it is in a classroom, on the sports field, or during assembly. If they know what to do, the chain of survival starts right there.
Vidya Mandir was a fitting place to begin. The school in Mylapore, established in 1956, traces its roots to the Mylapore Ladies’ Club and has grown into one of Chennai’s most respected CBSE campuses, serving more than 1,300 students today. With that many young lives on campus every day, building teacher readiness is not optional, it is essential.
What we covered
In two hours, the group moved from hesitation to confidence:
- Recognize and respond: how to identify a cardiac arrest quickly, call 108, and put the phone on speaker
- Hands-only CPR: correct hand placement, depth, rate, and how to keep going until help takes over
- Team CPR: rotating compressors in a classroom setting so fatigue does not stop care
- AED awareness: what an automated external defibrillator does, where to find one, and how voice prompts work
- Choking and recovery position: practical steps for common school emergencies
- Safe practice: using manikins, giving feedback on compression quality, and clearing myths about causing harm
Dr Krishna focused on the physiology in plain language — why uninterrupted compressions matter more than rescue breaths for a lay responder. Dr Arunya ran the drills, correcting posture, counting cadence, and ensuring every teacher completed at least three full cycles on the manikin.
Why it mattered
The energy in the room shifted. Teachers who arrived saying “I would panic” left saying “I know the first three things to do.” Many spoke about taking the skill back to their own families and neighbourhoods in Mylapore, not just the school.
For the Foundation, this workshop is part of a larger belief: life-saving skills should live where people live and work. Schools are natural hubs. When 55 teachers are trained, the impact multiplies across hundreds of students, parents, and colleagues.
We are grateful to the management and staff of Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School for opening their doors, and especially to Dr Krishna and Dr Arunya for leading with patience and clarity. The session on 2nd June was a start, not a finish. Our hope is to return for refresher drills, to include non-teaching staff, and to help the school map its AED and emergency response plan.
If you are a school in Chennai considering a similar session, we would be glad to share our simple module. Bystander CPR does not require a medical degree. It requires awareness, practice, and the willingness to step forward. On that Monday afternoon in Mylapore, 55 teachers chose to step forward.
Ashvin Education and Research Foundation works on community health education across Tamil Nadu, with a focus on first-response training in schools, colleges, and workplaces.
