A Tampa mother says a mix of fast-acting CPR and a nearby automated external defibrillator is the reason her teenage son is still alive after he collapsed at school. Courtney Jackson told reporters that staff rushed to her son's side when he went into sudden cardiac arrest, and he is now recovering.
Video shared by local outlets shows Jackson recounting those terrifying moments after her son went down at school, describing how employees immediately started chest compressions and grabbed an AED. She credits that quick response and the device with saving his life, an account collected by Spot On Florida.
How the emergency unfolded
Footage and reports from the scene show school personnel performing CPR, using firm chest compressions while another staffer prepared and deployed the AED in an effort to stabilize the teen. Staff began those life-saving measures on campus, and the student was then transported for further medical care. The mother's description of events and clips of the on-campus response appear in a video segment from ABC Action News.
Why CPR and AEDs matter
Medical experts have long stressed that immediate CPR and rapid defibrillation are crucial when someone goes into sudden cardiac arrest, since survival chances drop sharply every minute help is delayed. The American Heart Association notes that survival can decline about 7 to 10 percent for every minute without defibrillation and recommends early AED use along with high-quality CPR, according to the American Heart Association.
Florida law and school readiness
Florida lawmakers have moved to make responses like the one at Jackson's son's school more standard, not a matter of luck. State legislation requires school districts to provide basic first aid and CPR instruction in middle and high schools and to create evidence-based plans for handling cardiac emergencies. It also mandates that every public and charter school have at least one working AED on campus by July 1, 2027, according to the Florida Senate.
In her interview, Jackson thanked the staff who stepped in and urged other parents to learn CPR, saying that their training and the accessible AED made the difference for her son, according to ABC Action News. For families watching from the sidelines, her story is a stark reminder that when minutes count, preparation and the right equipment can change everything.
