More than half of all caregivers looking after the elderly here do not know the right number to dial in the event of a medical emergency, a health report has said.

Shanghai Putuo District public health department was so concerned with the results of a survey it conducted recently that it has launched a first aid training program, which it hopes to roll out across the city next year.

Many elderly people in Shanghai are looked after by caregivers, who are paid to clean and cook. But very few of them know anything about first aid, Zhu Ping, an official with the health department told China Daily.

"A lot of elderly people rely on maids because they live apart from their families," she said.

The survey of about 3,700 caregivers showed most of them would not know what to do if the person they were looking after suffered a stroke, was poisoned by gas, received an electric shock, or was involved in a fire.

"More than half of them thought 119 was the correct phone number to dial in a medical emergency," Zhu said, "but actually, it is 120."

Also, she said that more than half of those who did call the right number tended to just cry for help then hang up without telling the operator their address or details of what had happened.

Almost half of those surveyed did not know they should open a window for ventilation in the event of a gas leak, Zhu said.

The first phase of training has begun with a group of 22 maids working in the Urban Oasis Garden community.

"According to its three-year plan for community healthcare, authorities in Shanghai plan to run the training course in communities throughout the municipality," Zhu said.

Professor Lu Yiming from Ruijin Hospital said in any emergency situation, the first five minutes are critical.

However, it is almost impossible for emergency vehicles to arrive in this "golden five minutes", he said, so it is vital that someone on the scene is able to perform first aid.

Zhu said the principal aim of the first aid campaign is to provide better care for the elderly. "Many elderly people have accidents and medical emergencies," she said.

(China Daily November 29, 2007)