AED CPR defibrillator first aid workplace safety health WSH singapore Paramedics Saved Teen after On-Site AED Failed

Paramedics Saved Teen after On-Site AED Failed

Last year, Lahey, 14, was playing hockey in Chester, N.S., when a puck hit him in the chest, causing heart failure.

Kenzie Lahey the Survivor

“Kenzie grabbed his chest, dropped to his knees and fell to the ice,” said his mother Tanya Lahey, who spoke about the importance of defibrillators during a Heart and Stroke Foundation event Saturday.

“The referee immediately called for help. I dropped everything and ran out on to the ice.”

She was joined by an off-duty respiratory therapist, a doctor whose son played on the opposing team, and others. All originally thought her son was having a seizure.

“It wasn’t long before we realized we were dealing with much more than a seizure.”

CPR was performed and the rink was equipped with a defibrillator, but the battery for the potentially life-saving equipment was not charged.

However, a nearby ambulance had a working defibrillator and after two shocks, Kenzie’s heart regained regular rhythm.

He was then stabilized, sent to the IWK hospital and released a few days later. Six months after the March 27 incident he was back on the ice.

“Tests showed he had no underlying heart condition, so it was determined a one-in-a-million shot sent his heart into defibrillation,” Lahey said.

One doctor told her the stars had to align for her son’s heart to stop and a lot more had to align to save him.

She’s hoping other lives won’t be left to chance, which is why she shared her memories of the incident on Saturday and emphasize the importance of defibrillators.

“Kenzie’s story definitely has a happy ending, but the fact the defibrillator at the rink did not work is very unfortunate,” she said.

“The first thing I do when I enter an arena is check to see if the light is on on the defibrillator. If you see a flashing light, you know you are good to go.”