LAHORE: Akhter Saeed Dental College put its house officers through a hands-on Basic Life Support (BLS) training session on September 18, using its dedicated skills lab to rehearse the first critical steps of emergency response before the trainees begin ward and outpatient department duties.
The House Officer Training BLS/Emergency Care Skills Lab workshop brought house officers into a structured rotation of resuscitation and emergency-response stations under the supervision of Dr Waqar Ali and Prof. Dr Atif Hanif.
Rather than limiting the session to classroom discussion, the workshop moved trainees onto adult and infant resuscitation manikins, where they practised practical emergency-response skills while faculty observed and corrected their technique in real time.
From emergency recognition to hands-on resuscitation
The session began with scenario-based discussion designed to frame how a house officer should respond when confronted with an emergency.
A scenario written on the skills lab whiteboard was used to walk participants through recognising an emergency, activating help, beginning compressions without delay and approaching the initial response in a structured manner.
The practical component then shifted to the resuscitation stations, where house officers worked in small groups and rotated through different exercises.
The training emphasised the importance of being prepared to act during the first moments of an emergency — particularly the need to recognise the situation, call for assistance and begin appropriate immediate action rather than waiting for others to take over.
House officers practise chest compressions and airway management
At the first station, participants worked with adult BLS manikins, practising chest compressions and airway-management techniques.
Faculty supervision focused on practical technique, including hand placement and compression pacing, while peer-to-peer feedback formed part of the small-group rotation.
The skills lab environment allowed the house officers to repeat the manoeuvres rather than simply observe a demonstration, reinforcing the workshop's practical focus.
Choking response forms another key station
The second station focused on choking recognition and the Heimlich manoeuvre, with participants referring to the first-aid-for-choking charts available in the ward environment.
The inclusion of choking response alongside BLS exercises broadened the session beyond cardiopulmonary resuscitation alone, giving house officers an opportunity to work through another emergency situation they may encounter during clinical duties.
The workshop also incorporated scenario walkthroughs covering the call for help, primary survey and handover, linking individual practical skills with the broader sequence of emergency response.
Faculty supervision keeps the training hands-on
Dr Waqar Ali and Prof. Dr Atif Hanif facilitated the workshop, moving between the discussion and practical components as house officers worked through the scenarios.
The skills lab was equipped with adult and infant resuscitation manikins, while wall charts covered CPR guidance, infant CPR, choking first aid and intubation technique.
The setup enabled the house officers to move between discussion, observation and hands-on practice within the same training environment.
A key message reinforced during the workshop was that a house officer should be prepared to act during the first 60 seconds of an emergency, before additional help arrives.
BLS training becomes part of house officer preparedness
The September 18 workshop placed emergency preparedness within the wider clinical training of Akhter Saeed Dental College's house officers.
By combining scenario discussion, chest-compression practice, airway management, choking response, primary-survey exercises and handover practice, the session exposed participants to multiple elements of the initial emergency-response process in a single skills-lab rotation.
The workshop also reflected the college's stated emphasis on emergency preparedness as part of house officer induction, rather than treating BLS and emergency response as a one-time orientation exercise.
For newly inducted dental house officers moving into ward and OPD responsibilities, the ability to recognise an emergency and respond promptly is a core part of being prepared for the clinical environment.
The September 18 training therefore placed the focus where it matters most in an emergency: recognition, immediate action, practical skills and readiness to respond.
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