Seizure patient dies of cardiac arrest.

By Lauren Zimmerman - Web Producer Monday, October 24, 2011 - 4:37pm

El Paso Channel 9 NEWS

FABENS- A Fabens High School student died this morning after suffering a seizure while at school.

Violeta Loya was rushed to Del Sol Medical center after she suffered a seizure shortly before class. The principal of Fabens High School says CPR was performed on Loya before the ambulance arrived, however she died shortly after 9:00 a.m. this morning.

According to the principal, Loya was epileptic and had three seizures prior to today, including one three weeks ago at the school's homecoming.

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What's a seizure story doing in a cardiac arrest blog?

While some seizures do not interfere with breathing, others do. When a seizure does interfere with breathing, the victim can go for a prolonged period without breathing and may suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. This is also how it is that choking can lead to a sudden cardiac arrest. If you see someone seizing and who is not breathing, you need to act. You need to call 911, and if you have the training and equipment, you need to ventilate the victim. And you have to be prepared to perform CPR and defibrillate, if the victim goes into cardiac arrest. It sounds as if the school was on the ball wrt the CPR, but the story is silent regarding defibrillator usage.