Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – Chaos erupted in the restaurant. Suddenly, an 11-year-old girl swiftly moved behind the woman with the choked object, wrapped her arms around her waist, and delivered precise, rhythmic upper abdominal thrusts. Within 30 seconds of this standard maneuver, the three pearls lodged in her airway were expelled.
The story of 11-year-old Hu Zihan using the Heimlich maneuver to save a woman in the restaurant has sparked heated discussion on social media. While people admire the girl's composure, a deeper question should be considered: why was this 11-year-old the only one at the scene who possessed this life-saving skill in such a critical moment?
Science popularization cannot stop at "knowing"; it must be put into practice. Data shows that more than 3,000 accidental deaths in my country each year are caused by airway obstruction, 90% of which occur outside of hospitals. The Heimlich maneuver, as a standard treatment for airway obstruction, is not complicated to perform; even an 11-year-old child can master it. However, regrettably, at the scene, apart from Hu Zihan, other adults were helpless. This phenomenon of "knowledge stagnation" is a typical manifestation of the overemphasis on theory and neglect of practice in science popularization.
The "last mile" obstacle in science popularization work is first reflected in the disconnect between training methods. Currently, many first aid training programs still rely on the traditional "you lecture, I listen" model, lacking scenario simulations and practical exercises. Hu Zihan's composure in the emergency was key because the Liaoning Provincial Red Cross Society's training adopted a three-dimensional model of "theory + demonstration + practice." This "learning by doing" approach truly transforms first aid knowledge into muscle memory. Conversely, most adults may have seen demonstrations of the Heimlich maneuver on television or online, but due to a lack of practical experience, they become "armchair theorists" in critical moments.
Secondly, the uneven distribution of science popularization resources exacerbates the "knowledge gap." Hu Zihan, as a member of the Red Cross Youth Lecture Group, received systematic first aid training. However, such high-quality science popularization resources remain scarce at the grassroots level. A survey by the China Association for Science and Technology shows that less than 1% of the population in my country possesses basic first aid knowledge and skills, far below the average level of 30% in developed countries. This imbalance in resource allocation makes it difficult for scientific knowledge to reach the general public.
Even more worthy of reflection is the bias in social perception. Many people believe that first aid is the domain of professionals, and that ordinary people "just need to know." This misconception directly leads to a passive attitude among the public. In fact, from cardiac arrest to airway obstruction, the "golden time" for first aid is often only 4-6 minutes; by the time professional paramedics arrive, it is often too late. Hu Zihan's case proves that it is not only possible for ordinary people to master first aid skills, but also necessary.
Breaking down the "last mile" of science popularization requires concerted efforts from multiple parties. The education department should include first aid training in the compulsory curriculum of primary and secondary schools, seizing the golden period of strong learning ability among teenagers; communities and enterprises should regularly organize practical training, giving adults the opportunity to catch up on this knowledge; media platforms should innovate their dissemination methods, lowering the learning threshold through short videos, interactive games, and other formats. Most importantly, an incentive mechanism should be established to ensure that "ordinary heroes" like Hu Zihan receive the social recognition they deserve.
Hu Zihan's 30 seconds of saving a life highlight the shortcomings of science popularization work and also point the way for improvement. Only when scientific knowledge truly "enters ordinary households" and is transformed into the practical abilities of ordinary people can our society weave a more robust safety net.
