Medical experts are calling for basic life supports systems to be mandatory for all organizations in the Kingdom - to deal with emergency cases of injury. The experts said there should be teams trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS) at organizations including sports, civic clubs, educational institutions, and family groups. This was the recommendation made at the World Medical Support Services Team (WOMED) – Saudi Arabia Chapter forum held at the Mohammad Dossary Hospital. “Every organization or group must have a team on CPR/BLS to ensure an immediate response in the case of an emergency,” said Zohair J. Al-Sowaymill, safety coordinator of Saudi Aramco and a CPR practitioner for more than 30 years. Addressing the forum, he said this should be compulsory in the Saudi Arabia because of the harsh working conditions. Dr. Ferdinand C. Supnet, project medical officer of the Al-Mojil Group, a construction company employing several thousand foreign workers, said companies operating in the Kingdom need to establish life support teams for their workers. “The key to basic life support in pre-hospital emergency care is determining the ABCs during emergencies – airway, breathing, and circulation. This means the maintenance of a clear passageway for gases between the lungs and the outside of the body, and the inflation and deflation of the lungs via the airway. And providing adequate blood support to the body to deliver oxygen to all cells and remove carbon dioxide,” Supnet explained. Professor M.I. Tianero, founder of WOMED/WOMA-USA, said this was needed for clubs that study the martial arts. “Martial arts groups need such CPR/BLS teams to provide treatment for those injured since it is inevitable that injuries occur in combative sports,” he said. He said martial arts instructors are now required to know the basic life support programs to allow them to continue teaching. The forum was attended by nurses and paramedical personnel from hospitals, expatriate community leaders, and corporate executives.
