ISKANDAR PUTERI — Teachers and staff at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Cheah Fah attended cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training as part of efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness in schools.
The programme was organised by the Rotary Club of Tebrau (RCT) in collaboration with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society Johor Bahru Branch (MRCJB), with the support of the Johor State Education Department.
Held on April 11 and 25 from 9am to 5pm, the training combined theory, oral assessment and hands-on practical sessions, covering simulations, proper chest compression techniques, safe use of AED devices, and decision-making under pressure.
Since 2023, about 155 participants have attended RCT’s first-aid, CPR and AED training sessions, including earlier programmes at SJK(C) Ming Chih in 2023 and the Johor State Education Department in June 2025. Cheah Fah is the latest school to host the initiative. The primary school, which opened in 2022, was built with an RM18 million contribution from Sunway City Iskandar Puteri and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.
Khoo Jet Seng, Honorary Secretary of MRCJB, said knowledge of first aid and CPR was essential to saving lives, particularly in the critical minutes before medical help arrives.
“One of the key functions of the MRCJB is to extend first-aid preparedness for emergencies. It aims to train all its members in first aid for emergency responses,” he said.
Dr A.R. Leenah Devi Rajah, President of RCT, said the programme was driven by the recognition that teachers are often the first adults present when students face emergencies in school.
“As a medical doctor, I know the importance of this training for teachers, especially as there are not many programmes focused on life-saving care in schools. One minute of first aid can change a life, especially in a school setting where teachers spend the most time with students on a daily basis,” she said.
On the longer-term goal of placing AED units in schools, Dr Leenah noted that the cost of an AED — ranging from RM5,000 to RM15,000 — remains a significant investment for most schools. RCT’s approach is to first build a sustainable base of trained personnel before pursuing AED procurement.
“Training must be continuous for every new batch of teachers. If this is accomplished, then acquiring an AED would be beneficial and sustainable for the long term — and RCT can make it work in the future,” she said.
Dr Leenah also said the club hopes to expand the initiative to more educational institutions.
“The club is keen to expand this programme to more educational institutions, including higher levels of education, while continuing to raise first-aid awareness in schools,” she said.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Siti Nor Haliza Abdul Rahim, Assistant Director of the Student Talent Development Unit under the Student Development Sector of the Johor State Education Department.
Also present were RCT event organising chairperson and project organiser Koh Yee Mei, and representatives from MRCJB and RCT, including training officer Ramesh Ramasamy.
The initiative adds to broader efforts to build safer and more prepared school communities, where teachers, students, staff and visitors gather daily — and where the first few minutes of an emergency can make all the difference.
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