HISD Admits Non-Functioning Defibrillators Found During Recent School Inspection

HOUSTON – Many questions still remain surrounding the tragic death of a student last week in the Marshall Middle School gymnasium.

Following the death, questions were raised regarding the integrity of the defibrillator used during the medical incident and its proper functioning.

On Monday, HISD issued a press release announcing that an inspection of all defibrillators conducted by the district before Aug. 1 of this year found that 170 of 1,038 defibrillators did not meet HISD standards. The inspection is a “standard practice” within the district, according to a spokesperson.

The district is now focused on ordering parts for those defibrillators because they need to be updated. However, the district has made one thing clear: “Each school has a working automatic external defibrillator and there is an average of three working external defibrillators on campus,” said Alexandra Elizondo, HISD’s chief of public affairs and communications.

What does Superintendent Mike Miles say? The KPRC 2 investigative team tried to ask him questions during a media meeting he had called, but he refused to answer any questions about defibrillators.

As for whether the district has been able to determine whether the defibrillator at Marshall Middle School is working properly? “I am very sensitive to this situation, but I cannot provide any further details on the specific events of August 14 at this time, thank you very much,” Elizondo said.