A senior interventional Cardiologist in Mangaluru has urged the authorities to ensure emergency evacuation routes during temple festivals and religious ceremonies.This came close on the heels of a man suffering car…

 A senior interventional Cardiologist in Mangaluru has urged the authorities to ensure emergency evacuation routes during temple festivals and religious ceremonies.This came close on the heels of a man suffering cardiac arrest near the temple premises and the hardships faced by relatives to ensure that he received immediate medical attention.The Navaratri celebrations at Kudroli Gokarnanath Temple, Mangaluru, witnessed an enormous gathering today, particularly with the Chief Minister’s visit. 14-year-old dies of cardiac arrest in MandyaAt around 8:30 pm, a person residing within the temple premises suffered a heart attack. Due to the tremendous crowd, it was impossible to take a four-wheeler into the area. In a desperate effort to save his life, his son and sister shifted him on a motorcycle with patient sandwiched in between, struggling to make their way through the crowd to reach the hospital. The patient underwent angioplasty at nearby hospital now and is stable, said Dr Padmanabh Kamath.The incident highlights a crucial public safety concern. Every major temple, festival venue and crowded public gathering must have a dedicated emergency evacuation route, kept clear at all times for ambulances and rescue vehicles. Religious celebrations are important, but access to emergency medical care cannot be compromised. Even a few minutes’ delay during a heart attack can have serious consequences.He urged the temple authorities, police and district administration and event organisers to make emergency access and evacuation planning mandatory during all major public gatherings. Let devotion and celebration go hand in hand with the protection of human life, he said.

Source: Deccan Herald