Achi news desk-
The BC government says it is working on making CPR training mandatory for high school students.
This change comes after Sidney McIntyre-Starko, an 18-year-old University of Victoria student, died in January of fentanyl poisoning.
In an open letter, her mother Caroline McIntyre, who is an emergency physician, said a 15-minute delay before her daughter received naloxone or CPR contributed to her death.
McIntrye said her daughter’s death was preventable and believes CPR and naloxone training should be standard in high schools and that easy-to-use naloxone should be widely available to avoid similar tragedies.
The province has now hinted that it is working on a plan.
“I believe anytime we advocate for CPR in the public sense, whether it’s in schools or our workplaces or our communities, we make our communities much safer,” said Canadian Red Cross First Aid Education chair, Lyle Karasiuk told Global News.
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The BC Federation of Teachers said it was in favor of the idea.
In a previous statement, BC’s Health and Addictions Minister said the province is working on adding mandatory CPR training in high schools and purchasing nasal naloxone in larger quantities.
The ministry did not provide further details when reached by Global News on Tuesday.
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