Create a vivid, cinematic scene with soft, diffused lighting using an Arri Alexa camera. In the foreground, a 16-year-old African American girl, Kaleiah Jones, lies collapsed against a grey school locker, her expression painfully still, evoking a sense of urgency and despair. A diverse group of school personnel, including a concerned Hispanic assistant principal and a Black school resource officer, rushes to her side, their faces showing shock and panic. In the background, a bustling high school hallway is partially blurred, illustrating the chaotic environment. The mood is somber and tense, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Highlight the unopened Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on the wall, symbolizing missed chances for intervention. The text overlay reads:
Tragedy struck Menchville High School when 16 year old Kaleiah Jones died due to a failure in emergency response sparking outrage and a lawsuit Image generated by DALL E

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Urgent Call for Enhanced CPR Training in Virginia Schools

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Kaleiah Jones, a 16-year-old, died after collapsing at Menchville High School.
School personnel did not provide adequate CPR or use available AEDs.
The family filed an $85 million wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence.
The incident raised concerns over emergency response training in schools.
Community outrage highlights the need for improved safety protocols.
Legal action could lead to changes in training and compliance laws.

The Death of Kaleiah Jones: School’s Emergency Response Failure

On February 20, 2024, a terrible event occurred at Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia. The school’s emergency response system failed, leading to the death of 16-year-old Kaleiah Jones. Kaleiah had a heart condition and collapsed in the hallway, which sparked a series of delays and missteps that resulted in her death and a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

Kaleiah Jones’ Condition and the Incident

Kaleiah, who had bradycardia and Long QT syndrome, collapsed suddenly near a locker. Her body twitched briefly, and then she stopped moving. Even though her medical condition was known, the staff’s response lacked urgency.

Timeline of Events on February 20, 2024

1:09 p.m.
Kaleiah Jones collapses in the hallway.
1:10 p.m.
Assistant Principal Diamond Gee arrives.
1:11 p.m.
Officer Isiah Washington arrives.
1:12 p.m.
Nurse Turkan Tillotson arrives with a wheelchair.
1:14 p.m.
Principal Lisa Egolf and Assistant Principal William Huffstetler arrive.
1:18 p.m.
Officer Washington performs CPR but stops after 17 seconds.
1:26 p.m.
Emergency medical staff arrive and begin consistent CPR.
1:46 p.m.
Kaleiah is taken to the hospital.
2:43 p.m.
Kaleiah passes away at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Source: Family of Menchville sophomore files $85M wrongful death suit against city of Newport News, NNPS

School Personnel Response

The timeline shows a lack of urgency and proper care. State law in Virginia requires school personnel to be certified in CPR and AED use. Despite this, Officer Washington began CPR nine minutes after Kaleiah collapsed and stopped after 17 seconds. Shockingly, no one used the AEDs available in the school, which could have been life-saving.

CPR Training Rates in the U.S. (2020)

12%
Trained in CPR
Not Trained

Source: American Heart Association

Bradycardia and Long QT Syndrome: Understanding Kaleiah’s Condition

Bradycardia refers to an abnormally slow heart rate, typically under 60 beats per minute, which can lead to dizziness or fainting due to reduced blood flow (Source: Mayo Clinic). Long QT syndrome, on the other hand, is a disorder that affects the heart’s electrical activity. It can cause dangerous, rapid heartbeats, which may trigger seizures or sudden death (Source: Mayo Clinic). Kaleiah’s pre-existing conditions required immediate medical attention, yet the school’s response fell short. Understanding the severity of her heart condition underscores the critical need for rapid intervention in cases like hers.

What Is an AED?

AED Icon

AED (Automated External Defibrillator): A device used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It checks heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. Quick use of an AED greatly increases the chance of survival in emergencies.

Virginia School CPR and AED Requirements

CPR AED Icon

Virginia School CPR Law: State law requires all school employees to be certified in CPR and AED use. This ensures schools are prepared for emergencies, but regular refresher courses and mock drills are vital to keeping skills sharp.

CPR Training and the Importance of Quick Action

The delay in performing CPR is critical when every second counts. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique that helps maintain blood flow to vital organs during a cardiac emergency (Source: Red Cross CPR Training). The fact that Officer Washington began CPR nine minutes after Kaleiah collapsed, and stopped after 17 seconds, raises serious concerns. One unanswered question is whether the staff received adequate CPR training and why they hesitated to act decisively.

Policy Gaps in Emergency Response Training

Virginia state law mandates that school personnel be trained in both CPR and AED use, yet this incident shows a gap in both training and execution. Though the school may have complied with state requirements, it’s unclear whether the staff received ongoing training or evaluations to ensure readiness. One key issue is whether the school conducted regular drills or refresher courses to maintain the necessary skills for emergency response (Source: Virginia Code on CPR Training in Schools).

Addressing AED Accessibility in Schools

The availability of AEDs in schools has improved over the years, with 70% of U.S. schools having at least one AED on campus (Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology). However, having an AED means little if it cannot be accessed quickly. One major concern in Kaleiah’s case is whether staff knew the location of the AED or how to use it effectively in the short window of time that could have saved her life.

The difference between what could have happened with proper use of CPR and AEDs and what occurred at Menchville High School is alarming. In 2020, only 12% of Americans had CPR training. Schools need trained staff to handle emergencies effectively. This failure shows a larger issue with emergency preparedness in schools.

Lawsuit and Public Reaction

Following this tragedy, Kaleiah’s family filed an $85 million lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools, the City of Newport News, and individual staff members. They accused the school of negligence and failure to follow state laws about medical emergencies. The lawsuit points out the failure of school staff to perform continuous CPR or use the AEDs, which might have saved Kaleiah’s life.

AED Availability in U.S. Schools (2019)

70%
Schools with AEDs
Schools without AEDs

Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The lawsuit exposed a key issue: even though 70% of schools had AEDs in 2019, they won’t save lives without trained staff and quick action. In Kaleiah’s case, not using the AEDs was a missed opportunity.

Community Outrage and Response

This incident sparked both anger and grief in the community. Kaleiah’s mother, Keyonna Stewart, has spoken out about her daughter’s loss and the future dreams that will never be realized. The family, represented by lawyers Ben Crump and Mark Krudys, wants to bring attention to the need for better emergency training in schools.

Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates (2020)

10.4%
With CPR
6.2%
Without CPR
With CPR
Without CPR

Source: American Heart Association

The huge gap in survival rates with and without CPR shows the importance of immediate action in emergencies like Kaleiah’s. The community is not only mourning but also pushing for changes to avoid similar tragedies.

Lessons and Call to Action

This tragedy demonstrates the urgent need for schools to improve emergency response training and ensure staff follow protocols. It also raises questions about whether current training programs are effective and if safety policies are being enforced properly.

FAQ

Q: What happened to Kaleiah Jones at Menchville High School?
A: Kaleiah Jones, a 16-year-old student with a pre-existing heart condition, collapsed in the school hallway on February 20, 2024, leading to her tragic death due to inadequate emergency response.

Q: What conditions did Kaleiah have?
A: She had bradycardia and Long QT syndrome, which are serious heart conditions that contributed to her medical emergency.

Q: How did school personnel respond to her collapse?
A: The response was alarmingly inadequate. CPR was initiated by a School Resource Officer nearly nine minutes after her collapse and was stopped after just 17 seconds. Additionally, no AEDs were utilized.

Q: What legal action has been taken?
A: Kaleiah’s family has filed an $85 million wrongful death lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools and associated personnel, citing negligence and failure to provide proper emergency care.

Q: What does the incident reveal about school emergency protocols?
A: The tragedy highlights a systemic failure in emergency preparedness within schools, calling into question the effectiveness of current training and response programs.

Q: What has been the community’s response to this tragedy?
A: The incident has caused widespread grief and outrage, prompting calls for improved emergency response training and systemic changes in schools to prevent similar tragedies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including africanelements.org.