Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down diving centre in Ghantoot. Victor Besa / The National
Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down diving centre in Ghantoot. Victor Besa / The National
Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down diving centre in Ghantoot. Victor Besa / The National
Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down diving centre in Ghantoot. Victor Besa / The National

Fear of prosecution stops residents from learning life-saving first aid in UAE, experts say


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Many people choose not to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation because they fear they could be held responsible if those they help die, instructors have said.

But experts said chest compression and other techniques could save the life of a family member, friend or stranger by keeping them alive until paramedics arrive.

Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor and Professional Association of Diving Instructors (Padi) course director at Divers Down, said a common misconception was that the last person to touch someone in need of help could face prosecution.

This has stopped too many people from learning CPR, she said.

Good Samaritan laws in countries such as the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and Ireland provide legal protection to people who help those they believe to be in peril, at risk of injury or incapacitated.

Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., August 2, 2018. Images on CPR demonstration on dummies by Nicola Liddell. Victor Besa / The National Section: NA Reporter: Patrick Ryan
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., August 2, 2018. Images on CPR demonstration on dummies by Nicola Liddell. Victor Besa / The National Section: NA Reporter: Patrick Ryan

The UAE is expected to have such a law – the first in the Middle East – introduced this year after it was announced in 2017.

It could not come quickly enough, said Ms Liddell, 30.

“I have heard about people choosing not to help someone who was choking because they were afraid of the consequences,” she said.

“The general thought from people is that if something was happening to someone, they wouldn’t get involved because they might be blamed if that person dies.”

Ms Liddell said there was an urgent need for people from all walks of life to be trained in CPR. "It should be taught to everyone, especially nannies and people who work in nurseries," she said. "Everyone needs to know first aid."

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has run CPR training classes across the region, including at Abu Dhabi, Yas and Al Sharq malls.

“We’ve had more than 1,000 people taking part in the roadshows so far,” said Dr Jacques Kobersy, chairman of the clinic’s emergency medical institute. “It was gratifying to see so many people coming to learn about CPR.”

Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down UAE. Victor Besa / The National
Nicola Liddell, an emergency first response instructor, performs a CPR demonstration on a dummy at Divers Down UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Kobersy, 41, said many who took part in the classes had misconceptions about what CPR involved.

“People think you still have to perform mouth-to-mouth but that is not the case any more,” he said. “You need to perform chest compressions as that it is what keeps blood flowing to the brain.”

Dr Kobersy called for more people to receive CPR training.

“It is an easy thing to learn and it is free,” he said. “You never know whose life might need saving.”

_______________

Read more:

Lawyers want ‘Good Samaritans’ protected

Many lives could be saved with better CPR awareness

Boy, 3, saved from drowning in Dubai

_______________

The need for people to be trained in the latest first aid methods is especially urgent on planes. A passenger suffered an epileptic seizure on a British Airways flight from London to Dubai on July 25.

It was the quick thinking of two passengers trained in first aid – a special-needs teacher and a doctor – that helped to bring the crisis under control.

A spokesman for Emirates airline said it trained its staff in latest first-aid techniques.

“All cabin crew receive comprehensive, one-week training in first aid for in-flight medical emergencies,” he said.

“The training is at a higher level compared to most workplace or public first-aid courses available.

“They have to attend annual refresher training to maintain their flying licence.”

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

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Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic

Power: 375bhp

Torque: 520Nm

Price: Dh332,800

On sale: now

RESULTS

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
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7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: Shanty Star, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: Alkaamel, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

8.50pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m​​​​​​​
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9.25pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m​​​​​​​
Winner: Quartier Francois, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

Zakat definitions

Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.

Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.

Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.

Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.

How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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Southampton 2 (Ings 32' & pen 89') Tottenham Hotspur 5 (Son 45', 47', 64', & 73', Kane 82')

Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

While you're here
The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

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Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm