Kenzie Lahey grabbed his chest, dropped to his knees and collapsed on the ice. Lahey, 14-years old was playing hockey when he was hit by a puck that resulted in heart failure.
Life on the line
The referee quickly called for help. The mother of Lahey ran out to the ice. She was joined by an off-duty respiratory therapist, a doctor whose son was playing on the opposite team and many others. All initially believed that he was having a seizure.
It was not long when they released that it was more than just a seizure. CPR was performed and the rink was equipped with a defibrillator, but the battery was not charged.
A nearby ambulance had a functional defibrillator and after delivering 2 shocks, it restored the regular rhythm of Kenzie’s heart. He was stabilized and transported to IWK hospital and released a few days later.
According to Kenzie’s mother, she hopes that other lives will not be left to chance. She eagerly shared her memories of the incident and emphasizes the importance of defibrillators in public areas especially in sports arenas.
Importance of first aid training
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can save a life. Prompt delivery of life-saving techniques improves the chances of survival during emergencies.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a training class on CPR and for more information, check out these sources: