The first five minutes before help arrives — Hafyzuddin Yusuf and Unaizah Hanum Obaidellah

JUNE 16 — A 55-year-old man suddenly collapsed at the arrival hall of Kuching International Airport.

As panic spread among bystanders, a woman stepped forward and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Several healthcare workers nearby joined in.

The man regained circulation, was transported to hospital, and received further treatment.

Later, when his family tried to locate the woman to thank her, she chose to remain anonymous.

Stories like these often make headlines because they remind us of the best of humanity.

Yet beyond the emotional appeal lies an important lesson.

In a medical emergency, a person's chance of survival does not depend solely on the sophistication of a hospital or the speed of an ambulance.

It also depends on what happens in the crucial minutes before professional help arrives.

Emergency physicians know this reality all too well.

When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, every minute matters.

The brain and other vital organs begin to suffer irreversible damage within minutes without the circulation of oxygen-rich blood.

While emergency medical services play an essential role, they cannot be everywhere at once.

Traffic congestion, distance, weather conditions, and the simple realities of geography mean that even the most efficient ambulance service requires time to reach a patient.

The critical question, therefore, is not only how quickly help can arrive.

It is who will help before help arrives.

In emergency medicine, there is often a narrow window between the moment a person collapses and the moment professional care takes over.

Those first few minutes frequently determine whether a patient survives, whether they recover fully, or whether they suffer permanent disability.

It is a period that can feel painfully long to family members and bystanders, yet it is also the period in which ordinary citizens can make the greatest difference.

Unfortunately, many Malaysians remain uncertain about what to do during a cardiac emergency.

Some fear causing harm if they intervene.

Others worry about performing CPR incorrectly.

Many have never received formal training.

Even when an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available nearby, people may hesitate because they do not know how to use it.

The result is that precious time is often lost while bystanders wait for someone else to take action.

This is not a uniquely Malaysian problem.

Around the world, healthcare systems have increasingly recognised that improving survival from cardiac arrest requires more than expanding hospital capacity.

It requires building communities that are prepared to respond.

In other words, saving lives begins long before a patient reaches the emergency department.

This is where public education becomes just as important as medical technology.

Every additional person trained in CPR represents another potential first responder.

Every community that understands the importance of early intervention strengthens the chain of survival.

Every workplace, school, mosque, sports facility, and neighbourhood that is equipped with knowledge and confidence becomes part of a broader public safety network.

Technology can help accelerate this transformation.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been discussed extensively in healthcare, often in relation to diagnostics, medical imaging, and hospital operations.

Yet one of its most promising contributions may lie in something much simpler: helping more people learn, retain, and apply life-saving skills.

The challenge with CPR training is not merely teaching the technique once.

It is ensuring that people remember what to do months or even years later when faced with a real emergency.

Knowledge fades.

Confidence diminishes.

Hesitation grows.

Digital tools can help address this challenge by making learning continuous rather than episodic.

Interactive learning platforms can provide refresher exercises, realistic emergency scenarios, and personalised guidance that reinforce critical skills over time.

Instead of attending a single course and hoping the lessons remain fresh, individuals can continue learning and practising through accessible digital platforms.

This thinking underpins the development of MyResQ, an initiative led by the Department of Emergency Medicine at Universiti Malaya.

Supported by Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia under the Ministry of Finance and in collaboration with UMCares, the initiative seeks to empower communities with CPR, AED, and basic emergency response knowledge.

The long-term vision extends beyond training sessions alone.

Digital technologies, including AI, offer opportunities to strengthen community preparedness through continuous learning, greater accessibility, and wider public engagement.

Future developments could support users in maintaining their skills, locating emergency resources, and accessing guidance that reinforces confidence during critical moments.

Importantly, technology should not be viewed as a replacement for human action.

No algorithm can perform chest compressions.

No smartphone application can replace the courage required to step forward when someone collapses.

Technology is valuable only when it helps people become more capable, more informed, and more willing to act.

The true strength of any emergency response system lies not only in ambulances, hospitals, or advanced medical equipment.

It also lies in the readiness of ordinary citizens.

Imagine a Malaysia where CPR training is as commonplace as learning to drive.

Imagine schools producing students who understand the basics of emergency response.

Imagine workplaces, community centres, and places of worship where trained individuals are prepared to assist when needed.

Imagine digital tools helping people maintain these skills long after formal training ends.

Such a future is achievable, but it requires a shift in mindset.

We must stop viewing emergency response as the sole responsibility of healthcare professionals.

It is a shared societal responsibility.

The next life saved may not depend on a doctor, a specialist, or a hospital.

It may depend on a teacher, a security guard, a student, a ride-hailing driver, or a passer-by who happens to be nearby when someone collapses.

The first five minutes before help arrives belong to the community.

The more prepared we are to use those five minutes wisely, the more lives we will save.

* Dr Hafyzuddin Yusuf is MyResQ project head and an emergency medicine consultant at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. Dr Unaizah Hanum Obaidellah is a senior lecturer at the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya.

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.