Beats of Bravery: Indo-US Resuscitation Expert Dr. Vemuri S Murthy’s Lifesaving CPR Mission Shines at India Fest

Chicago, IL: August 25, 2025 
On a vibrant Saturday afternoon, August 16, 2025, the National India Hub at 930 National Parkway in Schaumburg, Illinois was transformed into a bustling epicenter of culture, community, and compassion during the magnificent India Fest Parade. From 1:00 to 7:00 PM, this celebration of Indian heritage showcased a packed parade, traditional dance performances, and culinary delights, while also marking a historic milestone in community health: the Community CPR promotional public demonstration event of the first Indo-US collaborative Hands-Only CPR Training Center in the United States viz The National India Hub Community Health & CPR Training Center. This groundbreaking community lifesaver initiative, launched by the National India Hub in partnership with the Chicago Medical Society, Chicago, Illinois in 2024, is set to empower everyday citizens to become lifesavers, one heartbeat at a time. The Training Center is an integral part of the National India Hub, founded by visionary Mr. Harish Kolasani.

Imagine a bustling festival scene: the air filled with the aroma of spicy chaat, the rhythm of dhol drums, and the laughter of families celebrating their shared heritage. Amid this vibrant tapestry, a quiet revolution was unfolding. A dedicated team of medical professionals and community volunteers stands ready at the National India Hub's Community Health and CPR Training Center, demonstrating a skill that is both simple, yet profound, one that could mean the difference between life and death. This is the power of hands-only CPR, a technique that requires no medical degree, no fancy equipment—just two hands, a willing heart, and 30 to 45 minutes of training.

At the heart of this transformative initiative is Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, MD, a globally recognized resuscitation expert and the driving force (Founder) behind the National India Hub's Community Health & CPR Training Center. He has been a dedicated National and International Volunteer of the American Heart Association (AHA) for about three decades, an Adjunct Faculty (Associate Professor) of Emergency Medicine @ the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, a Visiting Professor of a number of Indian Medical Institutes and Colleges such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and an avid researcher involved with Indo-US Cardiac Emergency Research projects. Dr. Murthy has dedicated over three decades to advancing Resuscitation Medicine and Community CPR projects in the USA and India working with a number of reputable organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Chicago Medical Society (CMS), Indian American Medical Association of Illinois (IAMA,IL), American Association of Cardiologists of Indian Origin (AACIO) and Indian Medical Association (IMA), India.

A former President of the Chicago Medical Society and the Indian American Medical Association (Illinois), Dr. Murthy has been honored with prestigious awards, including a Medal from the US Congress as a "Global Champion of Resuscitation" and multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards. His pioneering work, including founding the Chicago Medical Society's community CPR Project SMILE (Saving More Illinois Lives through Education) in 2012, introducing a mandatory resuscitation curriculum pilot model in Indian Medical Colleges as a Visiting Professor @ Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences in Andhra Pradesh in 2012, and Initiating the First Indian Statewide “Saving Lives in Odisha Bystander Community CPR Project” in 2023 as an Advisor (CPR) to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, has significantly motivated Indo-US communities to offer bystander CPR help in Out -of- Hospital Cardiac Arrests. Dr. Murthy's vision for the National India Hub is to empower communities with the knowledge and confidence to act swiftly in cardiac emergencies.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a silent predator. It strikes without warning, claiming lives regardless of age, gender, or background. A child hit by a baseball, a grandmother enjoying a family gathering, or a stranger in a shopping mall—anyone can fall victim to this life-threatening emergency. In the United States alone, over 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals each year, with survival rates hovering below 10% without immediate intervention. For Indians, the Indian diaspora, and other South Asian communities, the risk is even higher. Heart disease remains the number one killer worldwide, and South Asians are disproportionately affected due to genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors, and often delayed access to care. But the National India Hub is rewriting this narrative, turning bystanders into heroes through its innovative CPR training program.

The magnificent India Fest Parade served as the perfect stage for robust promotion of this lifesaving initiative. Amid the festival's joyous chaos, attendees had the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of hands-only CPR, performed on state-of-the-art manikins designed to teach proper chest compression techniques. These manikins, equipped with feedback systems, ensure that trainees master the rhythm and depth needed for high-quality CPR—100 to 120 compressions per minute, roughly the beat of the Bee Gees' classic "Stayin' Alive." The simplicity of the technique is its strength: no mouth-to-mouth ventilation is required, making it accessible to anyone willing to learn.

The training center's partnership with the Chicago Medical Society brings an added layer of credibility and expertise. Together, they have designed a streamlined curriculum that distills decades of medical knowledge into a one-hour course. Participants will learn to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest—unresponsiveness, absence of breathing, and pulselessness—and act swiftly. The protocol is clear: check for responsiveness, call 911, locate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available, and begin chest compressions immediately. "It takes less than a minute to assess the situation and start saving a life," explains Dr. Priya Sharma, a Cardiologist involved with the program. "Every second counts, and hands-only CPR can sustain blood flow to vital organs until professional help arrives."

The introduction of AEDs—portable devices that deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm—further amplifies the impact of this training. During the India Fest demonstrations, attendees saw how easy it was to use an AED. With voice prompts guiding each step—apply pads, press firmly, deliver a shock—these devices are designed for use by laypeople, not just medical professionals. "The AED is like a guardian angel in a box," says Anil Patel, a volunteer instructor at the center. "It analyzes the heart rhythm and tells you exactly what to do. Combined with hands-only CPR, it's a game-changer."

The National India Hub's initiative is particularly significant for the Indian diaspora, who face unique challenges in heart health. Studies show that South Asians develop coronary artery disease earlier and more severely than other populations, often linked to genetic factors like high cholesterol and diabetes, compounded by stress, dietary habits and lack of adequate exercise. "We're not just teaching CPR; we're addressing a public health crisis," says Dr. Sharma. "By empowering our community with these skills, we're breaking the cycle of preventable deaths."

The India Fest featured demonstration of Community Hands-only CPR and AED on the manikin with the state-of-the- art technology by Dr.Murthy and the Training Center Team with a five-minute video that vividly illustrated the urgency of sudden cardiac arrest and the simplicity of hands-only CPR. The first four to five minutes after a cardiac arrest comprise the golden window for intervention. Without immediate CPR, brain damage begins, and survival chances plummet with every passing minute.

The statistics are sobering; only about one in ten victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survives. Yet, immediate CPR can double or triple those odds. Add an AED, and the survival rate climbs even higher. The National India Hub's initiative is a clarion call to action, urging communities to take responsibility for their own health and safety. "This isn't just about saving strangers," says Patel. "It could be your mother, your brother, your child. Learning CPR is an act of love."

The training center's approach is refreshingly inclusive. "You don't need to be a doctor or a nurse to save a life," says Meena Rao, a community organizer at the National India Hub. "You could be a student, a shopkeeper, a parent—anyone can learn this." The hands-only technique eliminates barriers, making it easier for people to act without fear of doing harm. Research supports this: studies from the American Heart Association show that hands-only CPR is as effective as traditional CPR in the critical first minutes of an arrest, especially for bystanders hesitant to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The one-hour lifesaver introductory community CPR training is offered free of charge at the Center. Prior registration is needed. Those who complete the basic training will be given a program attendance certificate. This is not a CPR- Certification Course. All the participants need to follow the Good Samaritan laws that protect bystanders who provide emergency aid in good faith. These laws, which vary from State to State, ensure that well-meaning rescuers face no legal civil repercussions, further encouraging community participation. "We want people to walk away feeling confident, not intimidated," says Rao. "This is about building a culture of preparedness."

The program coordinators of the Training Center, Ms. Smita Shah and Ms. Saloni Shah, shared the heart-warming and encouraging news of “A Life Saved" by a trainee of the Center. A woman trainee (requested to be anonymous) of the NIH CPR Training Center performed timely Bystander CPR on a person during a sudden cardiac arrest recently, using her training skills, and saved a life. Her CPR skills were commended by the Physician who managed the patient subsequently. The Training Center salutes her for her highest humanitarian service by " Saving A Precious Life" with timely, high-quality Hands-only CPR skills learned at the Center.

The India Fest Parade itself was a celebration of resilience and unity, and the CPR training center embodied that spirit. As families gathered wearing traditional Indian costumes, participated in various cultural dance programs and savored delicious Indian dishes, they also witnessed a community taking charge of its future. The National India Hub Community Health and CPR Training Center’s vision extends beyond Schaumburg, aiming to inspire similar training centers nationwide. "This is just the beginning," says Dr. Vikram Gupta, a lead organizer. "We want every US Community Center, every place of religious worship and every high school to become a hub for CPR training. Imagine the impact if every family had one person trained to act in a crisis."

As the sun set on the magnificent India Fest Parade, the National India Hub left an indelible mark on Schaumburg and beyond. The festivities may end, the music may stop, but the skills taught at the CPR Training Center will endure, rippling through families and communities. In a world where heart disease knows no boundaries, the National India Hub is building a bridge to survival—one compression, one shock and one life at a time.

The launch of the National India Hub's Community Health and CPR Training Center, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Vemuri S. Murthy, is a testament to the power of community-driven change. Dr. Murthy has also recently initiated (founded) a groundbreaking High School CPR project in India in regional languages besides English. The Indo-US collaborative "Project HEART India" (HEART: High School Education and Awareness for Resuscitation Training) was launched in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, on August 2, 2025, in Telugu language besides English. High Schools in other States are likely to follow the format. 

As we celebrate our heritage at the Magnificent India Fest Parade, we also take on the responsibility to protect one another. This initiative is not just about saving lives; it's about empowering every individual to be a beacon of hope in a crisis. Asian Media USA is proud to amplify this message, urging all to join this movement and learn the simple skill that can make an extraordinary difference.

For more information and Training Center Course registration, pl. call: 888-886-6335