Yashoda Medicity, Ghaziabad, has introduced a community-focused cardiac safety programme, ‘Rep Se Rescue Tak – Train Hard. Respond Faster.’, under its World Heart Day campaign to improve emergency preparedness in gyms and fitness centres across Delhi-NCR.
The initiative focuses on equipping fitness professionals with the skills to identify cardiac emergencies and provide immediate assistance while awaiting medical support.
The programme brings together hospital specialists, gym trainers, fitness experts and influencers to promote safer workout environments, particularly amid growing concerns over cardiac incidents during physical exercise.
Recent cases of sudden collapses, heart attacks and cardiac arrests during workouts have drawn attention to the need for better emergency response systems in fitness facilities. Punjab also issued a specific advisory in 2025 addressing sudden cardiac arrest among gym-goers and sportspersons, recommending medical screening, safer exercise practices and improved emergency preparedness.
Yashoda Medicity’s campaign is built around three key areas: cardiac health awareness led by medical experts, certification for gym trainers and practical training in emergency response.
The initiative involves Dr. P.N. Arora, Chairman and Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals; Dr. Sandeep Jain, Director and Head, Emergency Medicine and Trauma Care; Dr. Asit Khanna, Director, Interventional Cardiology; Dr. Manish Aggarwal, Director, Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart; Dr. Dhirendar Singhania, Director, Interventional Cardiology; Dr. Rachit Saxena, Director and Unit Head, Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery; Dr. Gaurav Kumar, Senior Consultant, Pediatric Cardiology and CTVS; and Mr. Neeraj Pal, Fitness and Wellness Coach.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. P.N. Arora, Chairman and Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, said, “India’s fitness culture is evolving rapidly, but fitness must also include preparedness for situations that require immediate action. When a cardiac emergency occurs, the people closest to the individual are often the first link in the response chain. Through ‘Rep Se Rescue Tak’, we want to equip gyms, trainers and fitness professionals with the knowledge and confidence to act in those crucial first minutes. The Yashoda Certified Gym & Trainer Initiative is our effort to take cardiac preparedness from the hospital into the community and make it a practical part of the fitness ecosystem.”
Under the Yashoda Certified Gym & Trainer Initiative, more than 70 fitness professionals from participating gyms have completed the training. The programme covers identifying an unresponsive individual, calling for emergency medical assistance, initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and understanding the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Participants also undergo practical sessions involving live CPR demonstrations and simulated emergencies. These exercises help trainers practise chest compressions, assess patients and coordinate assistance until medical teams arrive.
Highlighting the importance of timely intervention, Dr. Asit Khanna, Director, Interventional Cardiology, Yashoda Medicity, said, “A cardiac emergency can occur without much warning, and the ability to respond in the first few minutes can be critical. Fitness professionals are often closest to an individual when an emergency occurs, which makes their preparedness an important part of gym safety. Knowing how to recognise a suspected cardiac arrest, activate medical assistance and begin the right response can help bridge the crucial gap until professional medical care arrives. Building this readiness within fitness environments is an important step towards making exercise spaces safer and better prepared for cardiac emergencies.”
The campaign also involves fitness and community influencers across Delhi-NCR to expand awareness beyond gyms. Through their outreach, the hospital aims to encourage responsible exercise habits and make cardiac safety a regular part of fitness-related discussions.
By taking CPR education and emergency preparedness into everyday fitness environments, Yashoda Medicity aims to strengthen community-level response capabilities and encourage a culture where physical fitness goes hand in hand with cardiac safety.