A simple question — “Is Navi Mumbai ready to save a life?” — became the starting point for a city-wide CPR awareness movement led by Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, bringing together institutions and communities around the need for greater preparedness during medical emergencies.
Conducted from 8 July to 7 August 2026, the CPR Pledge Movement set an initial target of mobilising 50,000 people to pledge to learn CPR and become better prepared to respond during the critical minutes before professional medical assistance arrives. Navi Mumbai surpassed that target, with 61,221 people ultimately pledging to learn CPR during the month-long initiative.
The campaign brought together more than 120 institutions, spanning schools, colleges, workplaces and community organisations. Students, teachers, healthcare professionals, employees, families and community members participated in the movement, creating a broad-based effort focused on strengthening awareness and preparedness for medical emergencies.
Beyond the numbers, the initiative sought to encourage individuals to move from simply recognising the importance of CPR to taking the first step towards acquiring the skill. By bringing CPR education into educational institutions, workplaces and community settings, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai positioned the campaign as a wider public preparedness initiative rather than a hospital-led awareness exercise alone.
The scale of participation culminated in a significant global recognition. At a special event attended by Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, and actor Karisma Kapoor, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ officially recognised Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai as the record-holder for ‘Most pledges received to learn CPR in one month’.
The recognition marks the culmination of a campaign that began with a 50,000-pledge target and ultimately saw more than 61,000 people commit to learning a basic life-saving skill, underscoring the growing focus on community preparedness and the role of bystanders during medical emergencies.
Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said; “For ten years, Navi Mumbai has honoured us with its trust. Today, more than 61,000 people have pledged to learn CPR, reminding us of the extraordinary power of a community united by a shared purpose. This is the inspiration behind ‘My Hands Are Ready’, a movement that seeks to place life-saving knowledge into the hands of ordinary citizens across India.”
The scale of the campaign responds to a significant CPR knowledge-and-action gap in India. More than 700,000 people are estimated to die from sudden cardiac arrest in the country each year, while studies suggest that only 1.3%-9.8% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests receive bystander CPR. In urban populations, only around 2%-6.5% of laypeople have been reported to be able to perform CPR, and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival to hospital discharge remains below 2%-3%. These figures underline the importance of equipping ordinary citizens to act before professional help arrives. Through “My Hands Are Ready”, Apollo Hospitals is helping turn willingness to help into the confidence and preparedness to take the right action when it matters most.
Mr Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO- Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, said, “We want to take the message beyond Navi Mumbai and encourage people across India to learn CPR and feel prepared to respond when a life may depend on those standing closest. This movement is about giving ordinary people the courage to step forward for another life.”
Dr Nitin Jagasia, Regional Director – Emergency, Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, said,“When someone suffers a cardiac emergency (their heart stops), the first person at the scene is often not a healthcare professional but a family member, colleague, friend or passer-by. The ability to recognise this and initiate CPR can make all the difference while professional help is on its way. This movement by Apollo is to encourage thousands of people to take the first step towards acquiring this essential basic skill. Every person who learns CPR becomes better equipped to respond during those crucial early moments.”
The larger message behind the movement is clear: preparedness can begin with an individual. By equipping more people with CPR awareness and basic life-saving skills, communities can be better positioned to respond when an emergency occurs and professional medical help is still on its way.
