A pharmaceutical company has set a target to train 1 million Filipinos in life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as it pushes for the full implementation of the Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act, or Republic Act 10871.

At the Samahang Plaridel media forum on Monday, Bell Kenz Pharma Director James Cayetano said the company’s Sagip CPR advocacy seeks to equip more Filipinos with hands-on CPR skills, noting that only about 20 percent of the population currently knows how to perform the procedure.

Cayetano stressed that immediate CPR during emergencies can double a patient’s chances of survival, making widespread training critical.

He also warned of higher stroke risks during the holiday season, citing data that show an increase in cases from December to January due to “holiday heart syndrome,” a condition linked to excessive alcohol consumption that can trigger irregular heart rhythms.

It causes palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, or dizziness, which, while short-term, increases stroke risk.

“Based on data, the incidence of stroke ay tumataas (increases) between December and January, this is called the ‘holiday heart syndrome’,” Cayetano said, reminding the public to eat and drink in moderation in this holiday season.

Data from the World Health Organization and the World Stroke Organization show that stroke remains one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for around 6.5 to 7 million deaths each year.

During the forum, the firm’s medical staff conducted a CPR demonstration and basic training for media participants.

Cayetano underscored the importance of fully enforcing Republic Act 10871, which mandates basic life support training in schools, saying CPR education should start as early as Grade 5 to help build life-saving skills at a young age.

He also called for the passage of the proposed Automated External Defibrillator Act of 2023, which would require AED placement in public spaces, mandate training and strengthen Good Samaritan protections to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest. (PNA)