Most people retire to rest. Dr Maya Tandon retired and set out to teach India how to save lives.
Born in Ajmer in 1936, Dr Tandon studied at Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur and became an anaesthesiologist. She retired as Superintendent of JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur. After a career spent in operating theatres, she knew how many lives are lost in the first minutes after an accident or heart attack, before a patient ever reaches hospital.
Sahayata Trust
So she founded Sahayata Trust, which gives free training in:
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for someone whose heart has stopped
- First response at road accidents
- Road safety and emergency steps
For more than 30 years she has taken this training to communities, with a special focus on rural areas. She has trained over one lakh people. She also served on the National Road Safety Council.
Padma Shri at 87
In 2024, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri for her social work. As heart attacks rise in India, she has called for CPR training to be made a must for everyone.
What you can do today
- Learn CPR. It takes a few hours. Hospitals, the Red Cross and trusts like Sahayata run courses.
- Save emergency numbers: 112 for all emergencies and 108 for an ambulance in most states.
- Older adults can learn too. Many heart attacks happen at home, and the person nearby is often a spouse.
Sources: Wikipedia; THIP Media; The Better India; Sahayata Trust.