On 26 June, Kyoto University's International Student Division, in collaboration with the Kyoto City Sakyo Fire Department, hosted a lecture on basic life support and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on the Yoshida-South Campus. The event was intended for international students and conducted in two languages – Japanese and English – with the cooperation of the Kyoto University Co-op International Student Committee.
The program began with the fire department’s officers describing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) process, followed by hands-on sessions where participants practiced chest compressions and operated AEDs. The students also checked the locations of on-campus defibrillators using the University's AED maps. All these activities saw the participants actively asking questions and earnestly tackling their tasks.
At one point the fire officers advised the students as follows: "If you see an injured or sick person, check that person’s responses to stimuli and call 119. Then shout to anyone nearby for help." Each procedure was thoroughly explained and taught hands-on. The officers explained that chest compressions are highly effective on their own and should be performed with or without an AED. They also listed what to watch out for when using a defibrillator.
The students later commented that the lecture was easy to understand thanks to English-language explanations and was highly informative.
It is said that the chance of survival of an injured or sick person increases if the trouble is detected early and addressed by multiple responders working together. Kyoto University hopes that, among other things, the lecture helped the participants appreciate the importance of the Chain of Survival, comprised of early detection, reporting, and CPR and primary lifesaving treatment with an AED.
Related link
International Student Division's Instagram post with a video clip from the lecture
