Students push to equip high schools with AEDs

Tobias Zhang says his high school and the Vancouver School Board (VSB) have denied a request to have an automated external defibrillator — or AED — installed in the school.

He made the request after witnessing his best friend go into cardiac arrest during Grade 9 basketball tryouts at Point Grey Secondary School two years ago, resulting in his tragic and sudden death.

“I found the body of my friend. He was lying on the floor. He was unconscious and had no pulse and his body was turning purple from the lack of oxygen,” Zhang said.

“To me, it made no sense to not have an AED, so I thought this is an issue we can fight for.”

Zhang says when his friend went into cardiac arrest, the 911 dispatcher advised them to use an AED. Because the school did not have one, students had to run to the closest pharmacy — five blocks away — to obtain one.

Zhang says he and his friends raised funds and purchased an AED on their own. But when they attempted to donate it to the school, he says both the school and the VSB refused it.

“They were worried about the installation and maintenance costs,” Zhang said. “They were worried about the equality between schools, and they were worried that the risk of cardiac arrest in children was too low.”

High school student Sarah says this doesn’t make sense.

“I have a lot of family in healthcare and they think this is insane because a student’s life should matter more than the cost of an AED,” Sarah said.

In a statement, the VSB says it adheres to the guidance provided by the Provincial Health Officer and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to have AEDs in select schools to support students with specific health needs.

“Like any specialized/medical device, a lot of factors must be considered, including things like maintenance/inspection, location for access, and many other factors, so the devices are in place and sustainable,” the statement said.

Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi says cardiac arrest can happen at any age, and when the heart stops pumping blood to vital organs, permanent brain damage can occur after just six minutes.

“The bare minimum is that they should be in every single school,” Gandhi said.

“I have heard the argument that we have to train people and there are liability issues. That’s all hogwash; these are very explanatory devices.”

Zhang says despite his school’s rejection, he will keep fighting to have his demands met.

“To me, it made no scene to not have these AEDs, so I thought this is an issue we could fight for, so I kept pushing,” he said.

“We are planning to go to a budgetary meeting at the end of January.”