Teachers save student with CPR and an AED on the school’s running track

October 8th will forever be etched in the life of Charles, a Secondary 2 student at Chambly High School near Montreal.

During practice with his classmates on the school's running track in the fall, Charles began to feel chest pain but thought it was probably due to the physical exertion. He suddenly collapsed.

One of his friends quickly called out to their teachers.

Physical Education teachers Cynthia and Marc-André, alerted by Charles’ friend, responded quickly and found Charles unresponsive with abnormal breathing. Marc-André called 911, while Cynthia informed the secretary that they had called for an ambulance. Cynthia started CPR while Marc-André was on the phone with 911, and another colleague went to get the school’s AED.

Paramedics arrived in less than five minutes, took over CPR, and administered several shocks with the AED.

Charles was transferred to the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Hospital and then to Sainte-Justine Hospital, where he received more specialized care, including the insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Following the successful surgery, Charles returned home within two weeks.

"I'm alive!!!" says Charles, grateful to all those who helped save his life, adding that "CPR training is good for everyone."

Charles’ mother Isabelle is also so grateful. "It's important to train coaches, teachers and the public, including young people," she exclaims.

Teacher Cynthia is also thrilled with Charles' recovery and is encouraging everyone to learn CPR and how to use an AED. “The more people trained in CPR and AED, the greater the chance of a successful outcome in the event of a cardiac arrest,” she says. “And it's very important to install AEDs in schools. All high schools should have a CPR and AED program because it helps prepare young people to respond to emergencies like this."

Charles is back in school, which doesn't surprise his teachers.

The ACT Foundation set up the High School CPR and AED Program in Montérégie High Schools, including Chambly High School, years ago. Teachers are trained to train all students before graduation, and high schools have received AEDs. With the support of community partners, the provincial government, and ACT's health partners, AstraZeneca Canada and Amgen Canada, training equipment was donated to schools including CPR mannequins and AED trainers.

The Advanced Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation is the award-winning, national, charitable organization establishing free CPR and AED training programs in high schools across Canada. ACT raises funds to donate mannequins and teacher training to schools, and guides schools in program setup and long-term sustainability. More than 6 million youth have been trained in CPR by their teachers through this lifesaving program to date.