The Vancouver School Board is moving closer to installing automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in local schools. At a meeting Monday evening, school trustees voted unanimously for staff to finalize a plan by September – and they’re hoping the provincial government will fund it. That plan must include a timeline, cost analysis and options for funding. If the province won’t fund AEDs, trustees want to pull $250,000 from the school board’s contingency reserve. “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone and it’s about saving life,” trustee Preeti Faridkot told CTV News on Monday. “We talk about creating a safe environment for students, the children, the parents and installing AEDs is one step forward to actually doing that promise.” This comes after a push from some Point Grey Secondary students who have demanded AEDs in schools following a classmate’s 2022 cardiac arrest death during basketball tryouts. At Monday’s meeting, staff outlined some of the costs associated with bringing in AEDs. They said it would cost $250,000 initially, followed by annual maintenance costs of $50,000.
