By December 2025, all secondary schools in British Columbia will be required to stock naloxone kits and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This new policy is part of a province-wide effort to improve student safety in emergencies. Starting this September, Grade 10 students will also receive CPR and AED training during their gym classes. While schools must provide naloxone kits, there is no mandate for student training in using them.
The move follows the efforts of students like Tobias Zhang, whose advocacy for AEDs began after his friend died of a cardiac arrest at school three years ago. Zhang’s campaign resulted in AEDs being installed at his school, and now, the province has expanded this requirement to all secondary schools.
Despite the positive changes, some experts, like Leslie McBain of Moms Stop the Harm, stress the importance of naloxone training. They argue that training could save lives during overdose emergencies, especially amid the ongoing opioid crisis in B.C.
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