When you truly want something and go after it, the Universe will make it happen, is the mantra 21-year-old Shikhar Agrawal firmly believes in.

Hailing from a small town in Chhattisgarh, Shikhar nurtured entrepreneurial dreams from a very young age. And the way to accomplish them, he decided early on, was through IIT Bombay, touted the best place to start one’s entrepreneurial journey.

In his first year itself, at barely 19, he founded Cravy (a fresh fruit and vegetable delivery service across IITs) along with fellow IITian Aditya Makkar. But soon, he got involved with HelpNow - an ambulance service project, along with Aditya and Venkatesh Amrutwar, an IIT Bombay alumni - to build India’s most reliable medical response service.

As Co-Founder of the company, Shikhar feels that some of HelpNow’s biggest achievements are being supported by reputed global investors, partnering with Government bodies like the BMC and Mumbai Police and providing services to corporates like Sony and Reliance Jio among many others. But the biggest feat of them all, he says, is being able to save many lives every day.

An experience, aside of HelpNow, that enriched his student-cum-entrepreneur life was becoming the Youth Delegate for the Government of India’s Youth Exchange programme in Kyrgyzstan

Dream. Desire. And be Determined to achieve it, are the three Ds that have shaped Shikhar’s life so far, and are helping HelpNow inch closer to its mission. Of providing fast and quality medical response service to the 1.3 billion Indians, free of cost, by 2024!

SHIKHAR AGRAWAL: YOUTH DELEGATE (2019), MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS, GOVT OF INDIA; EX-FOUNDER, ‘CRAVY’; CO-FOUNDER, ‘HELPNOW’

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PART 2 OF OUR RIVETING FOUNDER STORIES

Most ideas are born out of problems. Aditya Makkar was 17 when his near one suffered a heart attack. 108, the Government ambulance service, quoted an arrival time of 45 minutes, which was fatal, as treatment had to be given in the first hour of an attack. The family managed to rush him to the nearest hospital in their car, and they were lucky enough to get immediate treatment.

But the realization that not everyone is fortunate to get treatment on time hit Aditya hard. Add to that, the gruesome statistic of 24 lakh people dying every year in India due to lack of/ delayed medical treatment, stayed at the back of his mind.

This, incidentally, happened just a week before his IIT entrance exam. And despite staying at the hospital for four days after that, not only did he crack the entrance, but also managed to get into the top choice for most young brains in India — IIT Bombay!

A place where the seeds of HelpNow were also sown. A hostel mate’s idea of fitting a stretcher inside a normal vehicle coupled with his own personal experience of a broken ambulance system in India gave birth to HelpNow, a medical transport service that would bring down the arrival time from 50 minutes to 15 minutes!

He soon involved Shikhar Agrawal, also a second year student at IIT Bombay, and Venkatesh Amrutwar, an IIT Bombay alumni, who gave up his high-paying job to join the cause.

With backing from Y Combinator, the world’s most powerful start-up accelerator, DSSE IIT Bombay and renowned entrepreneurs from across the world, HelpNow took flight in 2019.

Since then, the passionate trio has been solely responsible for taking HelpNow to where it is today — from just 12 ambulances on the Mumbai roads to becoming the most reliable and quickest ambulance service in the city with a network of more than 350 vehicles. All this in a span of less than a year.

With heavy expansion plans across the country, their mission is to provide fast and quality emergency medical care to the 1.3 billion Indians, free of cost, by 2024!

Aditya, though, believes that the mission could be accomplished even before that. In fact, a medical app, a non-profit healthcare organization and many other health verticals are also on the anvil.

For a 22-year-old to pack in so much at such a young age may sound surprising. But Aditya’s innovative mind goes back to his school days when he won the nation’s highest U-17 honour for ‘Exceptional Achievements’ from the Indian President for more than 12 patent-pending innovations. One of which was an educational venture called The Brain Splat — a ‘hands on’ Olympiad — where from registering the company and designing its website to pitching to school principals, he did everything single-handedly.

Observing, analyzing, innovating and wanting to make a difference are some of Aditya’s biggest strengths. But the biggest of them all is following his heart’s decree. And HelpNow is where his heart is right now!

FROM RECEIVING THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD AT 16 TO FOUNDING ‘HELPNOW’ AT 20 — IITIAN ADITYA MAKKAR SETS OUT TO CREATE CHANGE

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PART 1 OF OUR RIVETING FOUNDER STORIES

“I used to drive tourist vehicles and trucks before joining HelpNow as an ambulance driver. But I find driving an ambulance the most satisfying. 

“The longest ride I have done as an ambulance driver with HelpNow was from Mumbai to Bihar, a couple of months ago, covering 2,100 kms. Obviously, when you are driving an ambulance, you have to drive non-stop. On out-station trips, however, we do take breaks but they are very few and short (barely few minutes’). And they also depend on how critical the patient is. Nothing is more important than reaching the patient to their destination ASAP. 

“Of course, the job was very demanding, especially in the first month of the lockdown as there was a never-ending requirement for ambulances then. And in the peak of COVID, I’ve even been on duty 24x7. But work is work!”


HELPNOW'S AMBULANCE DRIVER RUSHABH BABU TANK'S EXPERIENCE WITH HELPNOW, IN HIS OWN WORDS...

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SAVING LIVES IS PART OF OUR LIFE

KICK THE BUTT

According to WHO (World Health Organization), tobacco kills more than 1 million people in India every year. The number is only increasing by the day.

And smoking, incidentally, is the leading cause of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a chronic lung condition.

Pledge to quit the habit, if smoking’s got the better of you. Follow these tips:

* Set a quit date and toss the cigarettes out. Along with it, put away all those things that remind you of it like ashtrays and lighters.


* Consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy (under medical supervision). They are available in the form of nicotine patches, gum, lozenges or e-cigarettes.


* Chew on gum/ candy when the cravings arise. Distract yourself by watching TV, calling a friend or playing a game you like.


* Eat a balanced, healthy diet. Cut out high-calorie, junk and fatty food to stay nourished.


* Exercise, go for a walk or try some yoga stretches. They will release endorphins, the feel-good hormones in the body, and help ease withdrawal symptoms.


* If you smoke to get out of stressful situations, practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditating, playing with a pet etc.


* Speak to family/ friends about your decision. Their support and encouragement will help you stay strong.


* Join a support group/ see a counsellor in case you slip up or find it difficult to quit completely.


And here’s the bonus: Within just eight hours of quitting smoking, your body's oxygen levels will increase and your lung function will begin to improve. As your lungs begin to heal, you may feel less short of breath, cough less and find it easier to breathe in the coming weeks and months after you quit. Your risk of developing cancer decreases too. And as much as 10 years get added to your life!

Go ahead, do yourself and your dear ones a favour. Quit now!


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KICK THE BUTT

“I’ve been driving ambulances for the past five years and I joined HelpNow ambulance service a year ago. I am often asked why I chose to be an ambulance driver when I could have driven any other vehicle. My answer to that question has always been: Driving an ambulance gives me the opportunity to be of service to people.

“In the current pandemic, it is indeed a high-risk job, but someone’s gotta do it, right? There have been days I’ve worked 24X7, especially during the lockdown, but the satisfaction of being able to help someone is immense. At times, it feels sad too when we see people losing their lives in front of us. But such is life…

“Of course, we have to take extreme care all the time in the present scenario. Which means changing our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) suit every time a trip is done, sanitizing the entire vehicle etc. But it is all done very meticulously.

“As an ambulance driver with HelpNow, I have travelled the length and breadth of the country ferrying patients. One of my longest trips was from Mumbai to the Nepal border during the lockdown. It took me 25 hours of non-stop driving. I just took few minutes’ breaks to use the washroom, but had my meal only after completing the trip. It was tiring but I am glad I could help.

“That’s the life of an ambulance driver. We can’t afford to take a break while at work. Because nothing is more important than reaching the patient to their destination.

“I must say that my family - wife and three children - has been extremely supportive of my profession, despite the many risks involved right now. And touchwood, my ride with HelpNow, too, has been extremely smooth and satisfying!”

Photograph Courtesy: AP Photo


HelpNow’s Ambulance Driver Izhaar Hussain Shaikh’s story of grit and gumption, in his own words:

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“IT’S HIGH-RISK. BUT SOMEONE’S GOTTA DO IT!”

According to WHO, 1 in 10 Indians will develop cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 15 will die of the disease. On World Cancer Day today, let’s pledge to protect ourselves against cancer.

Eat healthy: Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and avoid foods like refined sugar, refined flour, processed and packaged food, and saturated fats.

Quit tobacco: We all know that smoking kills. Tobacco, in all forms, including second hand smoke, should be avoided at all costs.

Exercise regularly: Physical activity of any form can protect us against all kinds of cancers.

Limit exposure to radiation: Since harsh UV rays and radiation from X-rays pose a cancer threat, limit being exposed to them. And while studies are still being conducted on radiation from digital devices and cancer, it’s safe to not be over dependent to them.

Get vitamin D: Lack of this ‘sunshine vitamin’ can cause a host of diseases including cancer. Bask in the glory of the sun, but not the harsh sun.


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PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

A first aid kit is a collection of medical supplies designed to provide immediate care for injuries which can be used at the site of an accident or incident. And it’s one every home should have.
 
Emergency medical kits are generally divided into two categories: Basic and advanced emergency kits. Basic emergency kits contain bandages and other first-aid essentials. Advanced emergency kits include medications, tools for removing foreign objects from wounds, splints for broken bones, special dressings such as burn sheets, and so on.
 
The contents of a typical first aid kit depends heavily on the location where it will be stored.
 
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙩:
 
1.   The very first thing you put in your first aid kit should be a multi-tool set. To cut, open packages, tighten screws and even offer you some protection if the need arises.
2.   The second item you should include in your kit is adhesive bandages or cloth strips. These are ideal for covering small cuts and wounds while they heal, offering protection from further injury.
3.   You must also have antiseptic cream, liquid and wipes to clean wounds before applying the bandages. Doing this will prevent infection, which can lead to problems later on if not treated.
4.   Gloves, sanitizer, OTC painkillers, paracetamol, thermometer and a small torch are some other things you can add in.
 
A first aid kit is an important part of any household. All you have to do is stock it well, stack it at a place easily accessible and pull out stuff from it when the need arises.

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO CREATING YOUR OWN FIRST AID KIT

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HELP YOURSELF



We are all familiar with the obvious benefits of yoga – better breathing, posture, balance, strength, digestion and so on. 

Here are 5 unusual benefits of yoga: 

1.	Discipline
Practicing yoga on a regular basis helps in achieving mental discipline, which eventually becomes part of our daily life. This will reflect in positive changes in our work, habits and lifestyle. 

2.	Smartness
20 minutes of yoga improves the brain's ability to quickly and accurately process information (even more so than running does). This mindful awareness has been correlated with structural changes in the brain, including growth in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with executive function, working memory, and attention.

3.	Clarity
Abhyasa (practice) and vairgyam (non-attachment to results) are fundamental elements of yoga. This simply means that the more we do something with the right attitude and consistency, it becomes effortless. And the greater clarity we create for our self.

4.	Gratitude
Whenever we bring our hands together (Namaste) at the beginning and ending of a Surya Namaskar, it invokes a feeling of gratitude towards the sun and life in general. Likewise, breathing teaches us to count our blessings with every breath.

5.	Peace
We may not find peace all the time, but at a deeper level, a religious yoga practise can make us a much more peaceful person. It helps us deal with anger, anxiety and depression issues bringing about a sense of calm.


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5 UNUSUAL BENEFITS OF YOGA.

You don’t have to be a dog lover, to wanna save them. Here are ways you can do your bit in making the world a better place for dogs to live in. Pick whichever works best for you. And you’ll stay addicted :)

**Volunteer.** Many rescue groups and shelters struggle to find enough help caring for animals. Get in touch with the one closest to you and find out how you can help. If you aren’t comfortable working directly with dogs, you can help with some admin or website work or anything else that needs tending to.

**Adopt.** If you feel you’re ready for a pet dog, adopt one from a rescue home. Don’t buy from a pet shop.

**Donate.** If you can’t volunteer your time or adopt, donating money or supplies is a nice way to help. When you donate, you are providing pets with food, shelter, vet care, and more. 

**Report animal cruelty.** Be the voice for the voiceless. Call your local shelter or emergency services.

**Teach compassion.** Children learn by example. When parents and elders model empathy and care for animals, they teach the value of being kind to animals.  

No matter what you do, remember every little bit helps. 
