Some small changes will be coming to Greater Victoria high schools this fall, with lifesaving skills now part of the curriculum.
An amendment to the Support Services to Schools ministerial order in July calls for schools to provide CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) training, along with a requirement for schools to carry AEDs and naloxone.
Following the inquest into the death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko, an 18-year-old UVic student who died as a result of an overdose, the jury urged the Ministry of Education and Child Care to advise school districts to teach students CPR and how to use AEDs.
“Student and staff safety is my top priority, whether schools are in session or not. While unexpected health emergencies on school grounds are rare, when they do happen, every second counts. That’s why we’ve made AED and CPR a part of the core curriculum, ensuring this learning is included in every student’s education before they graduate," noted Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare in an emailed statement.
CPR and AED learning will begin in the upcoming school year as part of the Grade 10 Physical and Health Education curriculum at all secondary schools, public and private, throughout the province. Schools and districts are also encouraged to extend CPR learning beyond Grade 10 students to include Grade 11 and 12 students who have not already received it.
As a result of the Support Services to Schools amendment, new policies have been placed to ensure that AEDs are accessible in all public schools – though 97 per cent of districts have AEDs available in all or some of their schools – and naloxone kits will have to be accessible in all public schools, though nearly 85 per cent of districts already stock naloxone in their schools.
All secondary schools must have AEDs and naloxone accessible by Dec. 31, 2025, while all elementary and middle schools are expected to have the supplies by September 2026.
Amanda Dowhy, board chair of the Sooke School District, said in an emailed statement that district staff have already begun work to ensure AEDs and naloxone kits are in place at all secondary schools before the end of the year, and in all elementary and middle schools by the start of the next school year, as required by the province
"We also welcome the addition of CPR and AED training to the Physical and Health Education 10 curriculum. This will give students valuable skills and confidence in responding to emergencies, including following safety guidelines, having an emergency response plan, and knowing how to get help when it matters most," she said.
