The family of a seven-year-old girl who died from a rare heart condition is installing outdoor automated emergency defibrillators (AEDs) in rural Alberta to prevent similar tragedies.
Emily Lougheed died on August 2, 2020, after collapsing at the beach. Her mother, Leanne Lougheed, said Emily's heart was "built differently," a rare condition that caused sudden cardiac arrest. An AED was used but could not restart her heart because she had no pulse.
Since then, the family has launched the group "Smile Like Emily" and installed eight AEDs in Paintearth County No. 18, located over 200 kilometers southeast of Edmonton. The latest unit was unveiled at Gus Wetter School in Castor, where Emily was a student. Other locations include schools, a ball diamond, and a fitness gym.
Christine Drury of Action First Aid, the supplier, said cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among student athletes. The cabinets cost between $1,000 and several thousand dollars. The family plans to continue expanding the program.