KUALA LUMPUR: Medical doctor and social media influencer Dr S. Malar Santhi said the case of a badminton player who died from a heart attack during a match in Indonesia highlights the need for correct and quick response.
In a recent posting in her "Celoteh Dr Malar" Facebook page, she said anyone who witnessed a life-threatening situation must fulfil the responsibility of saving lives first and not be afraid to perform first aid.
"The first thing to do when encountering such a situation is to check the victim's response, and immediately shout for help and request for an automated external defibrillator (AED) to be brought to the emergency location.
She said even if the person did not know how or have no experience in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), they must act immediately to provide emergency assistance.
"You need to start CPR. Don't look around for someone else. It doesn't matter whether you have learned CPR, never done CPR before or are afraid to do so… set all those feelings aside.
"Don't be afraid that the victim will get hurt because they don't have a pulse, and don't fear breaking their ribs.
"You only give CPR to the victim in hope that their heart can start pumping again. If you get tired, make sure someone around you can take over until a professional arrives, such as an ambulance or paramedics," she said on her Facebook page.
Malar also said that anyone providing emergency aid, including CPR in a life-threatening situation, could not be sued or prosecuted even if the victim might suffer injuries.
"You cannot be sued or prosecuted for supposedly performing CPR wrongly or even if the victim's ribs are broken. There is legal protection (for aid providers), so there's no need to be afraid.
"Only fear the creator (God) who will ask you one day why you just watched and did nothing, and didn't fulfil your responsibility."
Malar said it was wrong for people to just stand aside without making any effort or doing nothing to save the victim.
"Remember, when the victims' time comes, they will go. But we who are present beside them are also being tested to see if we choose not to do anything, are paralysed by fear or have stepped up to fulfil our responsibility.
On July 1, 17-year-old Chinese badminton player Zhi Jie collapsed and died from a heart attack during a match with a Japanese player at the Asian Junior Badminton Mixed Team Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Zhi Jie, who was facing Kazuma Kawano, collapsed face down on the ground before the tournament's medical team arrived to provide him with first aid. He was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead at 11.20pm local time.
The video of the incident went viral on social media, causing public outrage after claims that the medical team was slow and hesitant to act surfaced online.
However, a spokesperson from Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI), Broto Happy, defended the actions of the medical team and the organisers, saying that the team needed to wait for permission from the referee before entering the court.