USM PENANG, 8 December 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has reaffirmed its commitment to community health and safety by hosting the Mass CPR-AED 2025 programme at Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP), drawing an unprecedented 7,063 participants.

Organised in collaboration with the Penang Heart Safe Society (PHSS), St John Ambulance Penang, and the Malaysian Red Crescent Island Branch, the event marked the society’s 10th anniversary and entered the Malaysian Book of Records for the largest number of participants trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) use in a single day.

An application has also been submitted to the Guinness World Records.

USM provided the venue, facilities, and academic expertise to ensure the success of this landmark initiative.

The programme aimed to equip Malaysians of all ages with lifesaving skills in CPR and the use of AEDs.

USM staffs and students also actively participated, with many sharing personal experiences that motivated them to learn CPR.

Their involvement reflects USM’s dedication to nurturing socially responsible staffs and graduates who contribute to the well-being of the community.

Penang state Executive Councillor for Youth, Sports, and Health, Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who officiated the event in the morning, commended USM’s leadership: “USM has played a vital role in empowering the public with practical skills that can mean the difference between life and death.”

“This initiative demonstrates how universities can extend their impact beyond academia into real-world community service,” he added.

Penang Heart Safe Society President, Dato’ Dr. Luah Lean Wah said, “Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is when the heart suddenly stops beating properly, causing a person to collapse, stop breathing normally, and become unresponsive.”

“When SCA occurs, time is of utmost importance, within minutes if there is no pumping of the heart, blood will not reach the brain, which may lead to brain death within minutes.

“It’s a medical emergency, and survival depends on starting CPR and using an AED immediately,” she said.  

Luah added that by performing CPR, the rescuer will pump the heart externally while the use of AED can jumpstart the heart.

“It is important that everyone learns how to perform CPR, the earlier the better while waiting for the arrival of an ambulance,” she said.

With over 300 AEDs already placed in public spaces and 5,000 in private premises throughout Penang, the organisers hope to expand installations and training nationwide.

Meanwhile, according to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran, USM remains committed to strengthening health and safety education, particularly through Pusat Sejahtera USM, which spearheads efforts to expand knowledge of CPR and the use of AEDs among the campus community.

“Pusat Sejahtera has taken the opportunity to provide early exposure to CPR and AED to thousands of participants through several programmes organised by the University.

“Among its greatest achievements was Mega CPR held on 22 June 2025, organised in collaboration with PHSS, which successfully gathered large participation and created a wide-reaching impact in raising awareness of CPR and AED among both the campus community and the wider public.

“Today, through the Mass CPR & AED Programme, USM once again affirms its role as a co-organiser that not only provides support in terms of facilities and expertise but also ensures that campus members are trained to become ‘first responders’ ready to face emergencies,” said Azlan in his speech, representing the USM Vice-Chancellor.

He added, “USM now has 11 AED units placed at strategic locations across the Main Campus, Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal, and the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT)/USM Medical Centre in Bertam.

“The effectiveness of AEDs depends on the courage and competence of trained individuals. Therefore, today’s training is crucial in boosting the confidence of campus members to handle real-life situations,” said Azlan.

In short, USM’s collaboration underscores its mission to advance knowledge, serve society, and promote public health.

Also present at the ceremony was the USM Pusat Sejahtera Director, Dr. Ahmad Zaimi Abdul Latiff; Penang state Health Department Director, Dato’ Dr. Fazilah Shaik Alauddin; representatives from St. John Ambulance Penang and Malaysian Red Crescent Island Branch.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe/Photo: Muhamad Faris Darwisy Mohammad Rafiq