KOCHI: Le Meridien, Kochi, in association with Heart Care Foundation trained 38 of its associates in the usage of the Power heart Automated External Defibrillator or AED on March 18. The trainer was Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram, chairman, Heart Care Foundation, along with Dr. Jacob Abraham from the Cardiology Foundation. An automated External Defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device and is used in cases of life threatening cardiac arrhythmias, which may lead, or have lead to cardiac arrest. The device also adheres to the Heart Care Foundation motto 'save a life, save a life time.' The doctors trained the associates on the mechanism of operation of the equipment. The placement of the AED in the hotel was also suggested so that the access to the equipment in case of an emergency is trouble-free.
The hotel also has 60 of its associates qualified on First Aid and CPR. This initiative was to educate the associates so that they can perform CPR in the first few crucial minutes before emergency personnel are available and this could save a life. The training session was conducted in two batches in association with the Indian Red Cross Society and St Johns Ambulance Association. The hotel management has also extended the service of its first-aid people to the district administration and the city police in case of any emergency or crisis in the city. All these initiatives are to create a sense of social commitment among the associates and also spread this to the community at large.