What would you do if someone suddenly collapsed on campus?
This year, as part of the Classroom Safety Scenarios in the first weeks of school, students were challenged to respond to this very life-or-death situation. They were shown a map of the AEDs on campus, and instructed to bring one to the unconscious victim as fast as possible. Many students hadn’t touched an AED since their freshman year in health class.
Automated External Defibrillators, or AEDs, are portable devices that can be used to resuscitate a person whose heart has suddenly stopped beating. AEDs are essential to have in crowded or public places because they are the only devices that can stop sudden cardiac arrest.
Increased presence of AEDs on LGSUHSD school campuses
Since the pandemic, the implementation of 15 new AEDs at SHS has given the campus significantly more coverage than previously. According to district nurse Lisa Tripp, an AED has yet to be used on campus in an emergency, but now, there will always be one nearby if it’s needed. With the current number of AEDs on campus, which cost $2,200 each, the school has no plans to order more.
Tripp has emphasized that AEDs are in close proximity to anyone on all locations around the campus.
“There is now an AED within a 90-second walk from anywhere on campus, minimizing the need to travel a far distance to find one,” Tripp said.
Health clerk Tammy Parris said that the initial funding for the AEDs was driven by the district’s Director of Technology, Julie Grenier.
In spring of 2023, Grenier applied both the SHS Foundation and the LGHS Wildcat Foundation for funding to support additional AEDs on both campuses. The SHS Foundation donated up to $25,000 for the purchase of 10 additional AEDs on the SHS campus. The Wildcat Foundation donated $8,500 for the purchase of four additional AEDs on the LGHS campus.
National awareness of cardiac events increases in recent years
A rise in cardiac events among young athletes such as Bronny James, an NBA player who suffered a cardiac arrest in college in July 2023, and Damar Hamlin, an NFL player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle in January 2023, influenced the district’s efforts to mandate electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings for all student-athletes. This decision is a reflection of the district’s persistent commitment to maximize the health and safety of all athletes following the death of a Los Gatos football player to a sudden cardiac arrest in 2008.
The district has been working in collaboration with the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation — which was created in the memory of Kyle John Taylor, a student athlete from California who lost his life during a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in 2018. The Taylor foundation promotes awareness about youth SCA through education and events.
Starting in August, the two schools have hosted a series of ECG screenings. Passing the screening is now required for students to be eligible to play for a sports team.
In August 2023, risk factors for sudden cardiac death were found in seven of 600 LGSUHSD students who were screened, showing the importance of such clearances, Tripp said.
Training students and staff to operate the AEDs
The most important part of implementing the new AEDs has been the training that comes with it. In addition to each freshman receiving AED training in health and driver’s education class, members of every sports team and several other after school programs have been briefed on where the nearest AED is as well as the procedure to be used if a cardiac event occurs.
According to assistant principal Matt Torrens, principal Greg Louie was the leader of the training.
“Not only are we putting them in more places, but we’re training [people how to use them] across every sport? season,” said Torrens.
“The AED project is important to me on a personal level, especially as a parent of Saratoga HS athletes,” Grenier said. “I hope we never have to use the AEDs, but the addition of this equipment brings peace of mind to everyone on our campuses.”
