Hyderabad, October 14th, 2025: Lodge Keys No 297, the primary unit of Freemasons, organised an interactive Talk on CPR and a demonstration workshop for around 600 of its middle and high school students on Monday, October 13, 2025, at CAL International School at Kapra in the city. The initiative aimed to equip students with the essential life skill of performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) — an intervention that can mean the difference between life and death in emergencies.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr D. Ramachandram, Lodge Keys No. 297 member, with sessions led by Dr Srirang Abkari, Senior General Physician and a member of Freemasonry, and Mr. Chaitanya Dr Ashok Kumar and Mr Dr.Vijayananda from the International Trauma Centre, Hyderabad (ITC).
In an engaging session for classes 7 and 8, Dr Srirang Abkari explained the fundamental steps and mechanisms of CPR. He guided students through the correct hand placement, the ideal rate of compressions (100–120 per minute), and the standard compression-to-breath ratio (30:2). He also highlighted crucial safety considerations to keep in mind before performing CPR.
“If a hundred people are in danger, CPR may not save every life, but it can save at least one — which is why it’s such an important life skill,” said Dr Srirang, emphasising the importance of timely intervention.
Dr Srirang further educated students on emergency response measures such as dialling 108 for an ambulance, locating nearby AED machines, and adjusting CPR techniques for pregnant women and infants. He also demonstrated methods for helping choking victims safely, without causing additional harm.
The session for classes 9 and 10, led by Mr Chaitanya, Dr Vijay and Dr Ashok Kumar, took a hands-on approach. Each group of students received a CPR mannequin, allowing them to practice and refine their technique under expert supervision. The interactive format allowed students to assess and correct their posture, compression rhythm, and breathing coordination.
Some of the age-appropriate, intelligent, and thought-provoking questions that Class 7, 8 and 9th-grade students asked during a CPR or heart-health awareness talk include
Why do older people get heart attacks more often than younger people? Can children also get a heart attack, or is it only for adults? What should I do to protect my papa from a heart attack? If I see my grandfather suddenly fall, how quickly should I start CPR? Can we do CPR even if we are not doctors? What if I press too hard and break someone’s ribs — will that hurt them more? If the patient dies even after I try my best with CPR, will I be held responsible or be called a murderer? What if people around me stop me from helping because they think I’m too young? Can I do CPR on a woman or an elderly person without getting misunderstood? Why don’t we see more people in India doing CPR in real life — is it fear or lack of knowledge? How can we train our parents, neighbours, and relatives to learn CPR too? Students of Classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 surprised everyone with their awareness and social sensitivity. These innocent yet deeply intriguing questions reflect the curiosity, compassion, and imagination of young students.
The students of classes 7 to 10 surprised everyone with their intelligent, sensitive, and thought-provoking questions during the CPR Awareness Sessions. Their curiosity went beyond the technical aspects — touching the very essence of empathy and responsibility. Questions like “What if I break ribs while doing CPR — will I be doing more harm than good?” and “If I fail to save a life, will I be called a killer?” reflected not only awareness but also a deep moral understanding. The Doctors who are specialists in emergency medicine and resuscitation were moved by the compassion and maturity these young minds displayed — proving that true life skills education begins with awareness, empathy, and the courage to ask the right questions.
“India is a country of 1.4 billion people, but only about 2% know how to perform CPR,” said D. Ramchandram, the project lead of the “CPR Ambassador’ initiative of Lodge Keys No. 297. Lodge Keys has embarked on training 1000 common citizens and making CPR Ambassadors.
By the end of the day, over 600 students had completed CPR training — each one walking out with the confidence and knowledge to potentially save a life. With this initiative, Cal Public School and its partners have added 600 trained bystanders to Hyderabad’s growing network of first responders.
Driven by the mission of building a safer community, Mr D. Ramachandram and the Freemasons Society have set an ambitious goal: to train at least 1,000 citizens in CPR. The team will return to Cal Public School to further train an additional 340 students, continuing their impactful effort to make lifesaving knowledge accessible to all.
With this, Cal Public School becomes one of the few schools in the city that trains 900 students, probably the largest in the city