NAVI MUMBAI’S HANDS READY TO SAVE LIVES

Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai has set a Guinness World Record™ with its CPR Pledge Movement, mobilising 61,221 citizens to commit to learning life-saving skills. The initiative, held from 8 July to 7 August 2026, surpassed its target of 50,000 pledges, uniting institutions and communities in a collective promise to be prepared.

“Is Navi Mumbai ready to save a life?” That question sparked a month-long campaign that has now entered the record books. Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai’s CPR Pledge Movement, conducted between 8 July and 7 August 2026, set out to mobilise 50,000 people to pledge to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The city not only met the target but exceeded it, with 61,221 pledges recorded, earning official recognition from Guinness World Records™ for the most pledges received to learn CPR in one month.

The initiative drew participation from more than 120 institutions, including schools, colleges, workplaces and community organisations. Students, teachers, healthcare professionals, employees, families and community members came together to embrace the idea that preparedness can make the difference in critical moments before professional medical help arrives. What began as a simple call to action evolved into a widespread community movement, underscoring the power of collective responsibility.

The campaign culminated in a special event attended by Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, and actor Karisma Kapoor. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Reddy said, “For ten years, Navi Mumbai has honoured us with its trust. Today, more than 61,000 people have pledged to learn CPR, reminding us of the extraordinary power of a community united by a shared purpose. This is the inspiration behind ‘My Hands Are Ready’, a movement that seeks to place life-saving knowledge into the hands of ordinary citizens across India.”

The urgency of such a campaign is evident in India’s statistics. More than 700,000 people are estimated to die from sudden cardiac arrest each year, yet studies suggest that only 1.3%-9.8% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests receive bystander CPR. In urban populations, only 2%-6.5% of laypeople are reported to be able to perform CPR, while survival to hospital discharge remains below 2%-3%. These figures highlight the importance of equipping ordinary citizens with the confidence and skills to act when every second counts.

Mr Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO – Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, emphasised the broader vision: “We want to take the message beyond Navi Mumbai and encourage people across India to learn CPR and feel prepared to respond when a life may depend on those standing closest. This movement is about giving ordinary people the courage to step forward for another life. It is a promise we make to each other, and it is a promise we make to India.”

Dr Nitin Jagasia, Regional Director – Emergency, Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, added, “When someone suffers a cardiac emergency, the first person at the scene is often not a healthcare professional but a family member, colleague, friend or passer-by. The ability to recognise this and initiate CPR can make all the difference while professional help is on its way.”

At its heart, the CPR Pledge Movement rests on a simple yet profound idea: our hands are already capable of caring, helping and protecting. With the right knowledge and training, they can also be ready to respond when a life is at risk. Navi Mumbai has shown that when a community unites with purpose, its hands can indeed be ready to save lives.