Reflecting on when she obtained the Padma Shri award for her contributions to highway security in India, Dr Maya Tandon says, “It was the best second of my life.”
The 87-year-old retired anesthesiologist has devoted her post-retirement years to creating Indian roads safer. “Whereas many are accustomed to highway security protocols and first help, few know the best way to carry out them successfully,” she mentioned in a dialog with The Higher India.
Dr Maya trains folks in highway security by her organisation ‘Sahayta Belief’. Working relentlessly for the previous three many years, she says she has educated 1,33,000 folks in highway security, CRP (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), sequential dealing with, and protocol dealings with accidents.
With a zeal for all times and a ardour for working for society — stronger than ever — Dr Maya displays on her journey and shares what led her to this path.
When saving lives turned her mission
Born and raised in Ajmer, Dr Maya was a starry-eyed baby who dreamt of doing one thing nice. “Given the instances that I used to be born in, my household was very supportive and liberal. I scored good marks on the college board exams and bought admitted to medical college in Ajmer and Delhi,” she remembers.
She grew up in luxurious, which allowed her the liberty to decide on her personal path in life. So she determined to pursue a profession in medical science.
“I did my internship in Ajmer, the place I met my husband. We determined to get married and moved to Jaipur,” she remembers.
In 1968, Dr Maya gave delivery to her son. “After that, I selected to pursue a diploma in anesthesiology as a result of it was a profession that I may handle whereas elevating a household. By the point I accomplished my diploma, I had additionally given delivery to a different baby, my daughter,” she says.
In 1972, she additionally did an MS in anaesthesia. “I used to be additionally giving lectures on anaesthesia at a medical school in Jaipur the place I got here throughout a chance. It was a fellowship in London for paediatric anaesthesia. With my household’s help, I used to be capable of attend that,” she says.
After finishing her fellowship, she returned to India and commenced working in Jaipur. “The position of an anesthesiologist is commonly seen as a behind-the-curtain job. Nevertheless, for me and in medical sciences, the affected person’s life depends upon us,” she emphasises, highlighting her deep curiosity in lifesaving work.
In 1975, she earned the honour of changing into superintendent and spent the remainder of her profession managing the hospital whereas serving as the pinnacle of anaesthesia at Sawai Man Singh Hospital.
“It was across the time of my retirement in 1985 when the Rajasthan Police Academy in Jaipur contacted me and requested I give a three-day course on highway security and lifesaving. I readily agreed to the request, unaware that it will form the course of my post-retirement life,” Dr Maya reminisces.
The course was very profitable and all of the senior officers posted on highways in and round Jaipur had been despatched to her for one more course. “A photographer had come to take some footage of the occasion. It was a couple of months later that he rang me up and advised me that I had saved his life,” she shares.
The photographer had been in an accident and will really feel bleeding in his interior thighs and again. “The folks round him weren’t positive the best way to assist him and had been taking footage of him. He defined somebody to raise him and put him in a sure place that slowed the bleeding,” she narrates.
This well timed transfer lowered the blood loss and saved the photographer’s life. “His phrases and appreciation made me realise the significance of providing such programs. It additionally revealed the unhappy actuality of the state of highway security in India. Not one of many individuals within the crowd knew lifesaving steps,” she says.
With an intention to alter the situation of highway security in India, Dr Maya began the Sahayta Belief. Since then, she has given free programs, seminars, and lectures to over 1,33,000 people.
“All these programs are performed freed from cost. The goal is to boost consciousness about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), correct dealing with strategies, and protocols for coping with accidents. We additionally inform members in regards to the numerous legal guidelines that shield a lifesaver from police investigation,” she explains.
Anil Kumar Gill from Gudha Godji, a small city in Rajasthan, participated within the seminar on highway security. “I used to be going about my day, working in my store, after I bought to know {that a} crew from Jaipur had reached our small city. I used to be eager to know what they had been sharing and needed to attempt it. We’re all the time conscious of the protection threats on the highway however attending the seminar helped me perceive what will be finished to save lots of a life,” he says.
“We had been advised how we can provide CPR and first help to an injured individual. We had been additionally given directions about who we will contact for assist if an individual must be taken to the hospital. In addition they advised us in regards to the numerous highway security guidelines and legal guidelines, which I had no thought existed. I feel such seminars are crucial as there’s a lack of expertise in rural areas,” he provides.
How one can assist?
Speaking about how there’s a lack of expertise amongst bystanders throughout an accident, she says, “Folks have a false impression about serving to an individual who has had an accident. There are clear legal guidelines that save the bystanders from any form of investigation, however there usually are not many individuals who know this.”
Stating that this lack of expertise brings hesitation in folks to assist the injured individual, she provides, “Even for those who can’t give mouth to mouth to an individual who has collapsed, say attributable to coronary heart assault, giving CPR can save their life.”
Explaining what ranges of intervention Sahayta Belief does, Dr Maya says, “We’ve other ways of reaching out to the general public. We do seminars each on-line and offline; we additionally conduct workshops and lessons. Moreover, we additionally do rallies and road performs to boost consciousness.”
The module that the belief follows for the seminars and programs is Maya’s speciality. “In a small course, we prioritise giving them the directions of what to do within the first 10 seconds,” she informs.
“Test for head accidents and bleeding; after getting secured what the issue is, you may act accordingly. If an individual’s lungs and coronary heart are giving out, resorting to CPR is the easiest way. Time is of the essence when there may be inside bleeding. If an individual is affected by cardiac arrest, solely an exterior CPR might help,” she says.
Aside from programs and coaching, the belief additionally works with authorities companies to make sure that there are emergency companies in public locations like malls and airports.
The most important hurdle that Maya faces is to deliver folks to attend the workshops. “The Indian public is all the time in a rush. It is extremely laborious for them to take time and attain us. We see a low price of response as they don’t have time to maintain visiting our programs,” she says.
“India is main in highway accidents and highway deaths. To fight this lack of response, we’re engaged on a mannequin the place we prepare folks, particularly from rural areas, in lifesaving. After which they attain out to extra,” Dr Maya informs.
The belief gives the individual with items of kit and mannequins to the ‘Sanjeeva’ (lifesaver), and so they, in flip, assist us unfold the phrase.
Nevertheless, Dr Maya Tandon shares that she will use your assist to cowl the price of tools in addition to to make our roads safer. Right here’s how:
Dr Tandon is all the time searching for monetary help to coach villagers dwelling close to highways, as they’re typically the primary responders to take care of the injured. You may donate right here.
(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All footage credit score: Dr Maya Tandon)
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