A MEDICAL school student who had collapsed at her desk during a class was brought back from the brink of a medical emergency thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of her fellow students and teachers.

The life-saving intervention included vital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures such as chest compressions and artificial respiration.

The incident occurred Aug. 28 when the student from Sun Yat-sen University’s Shenzhen campus suddenly fainted at her desk. Her fellow students and teacher immediately recognized the severity of the situation. The lecturer, surnamed Peng, halted the class and called for assistance from another teacher, surnamed Yang, who was also present.

Initially, the student was responsive to questions from the teachers and classmates, but she gradually became unresponsive. Her classmates sprang into action, dialing the emergency services hotline 120 while simultaneously performing CPR and retrieving an automated external defibrillator (AED). Following the AED’s prompt, they delivered a defibrillation shock before resuming CPR.

When the professional emergency responders arrived at the classroom, they also provided immediate on-site care before transporting the student to Zhongshan Seventh Hospital for further medical attention. She regained consciousness and has been in a stable condition.

Short for “automatic external defibrillator,” AED is a medical device used to rescue individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

Performing CPR and utilizing an AED within the “golden 4 minutes” is crucial. Data indicates that if cardiac arrest lasts for more than 4 minutes, it can lead to permanent brain damage, and if it extends beyond 10 minutes, it may result in brain death.

(China Daily)