The death of a 26-year-old student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) after a cardiac arrest has highlighted gaps in emergency preparedness at college and university campuses. The incident has prompted calls for CPR training, readily accessible automated external defibrillators and clearer procedures for responding to medical emergencies.

The student collapsed after reporting breathlessness during a class at TISS’s Deonar campus. According to the report, the campus did not have an ambulance or defibrillator immediately available when the emergency occurred.

He was taken to a hospital by car and reached the facility after about 30 minutes. The student subsequently died following cardiac arrest.

The case has drawn attention to the importance of the first few minutes after a person collapses. A director of the hospital where the student was treated said the incident underlined how quickly an emergency response needs to begin in cases of cardiac arrest.

Why the first minutes matter

A physician cited in the report recommended that college staff and students receive training in CPR and basic first aid. Such training would allow people present at the scene to begin an organised response while medical help and transport are being arranged.

The proposed campus response model includes trained first responders, accessible defibrillators and a rapid ambulance system. Together, these measures are intended to reduce delays between a collapse, the start of immediate assistance and arrival at a hospital.

The incident also underlines the need for campuses to have clear emergency protocols. Beyond identifying who should provide first aid, such protocols would need to establish how an ambulance is summoned, where emergency equipment is kept and how students and staff should respond while professional help is on the way.

Cardiac arrest and heart attack are different

The report distinguishes cardiac arrest from a heart attack. Cardiac arrest refers to the heart stopping its effective pumping action, while a heart attack involves a blockage affecting blood flow to the heart. A heart attack can, however, trigger cardiac arrest.

That distinction is important in campus preparedness because the response to a person who suddenly collapses must begin immediately, even when the underlying cause is not yet known. The focus in the first moments is on recognising the emergency and activating the available response system.

The TISS case has therefore raised questions that extend beyond one institution. Colleges and universities routinely bring together large numbers of students and staff, making access to trained responders, emergency equipment and timely transport an important part of campus safety planning.

The recommendations emerging from the incident centre on three practical areas: CPR and first-aid training, defibrillators that can be reached quickly, and ambulance arrangements capable of responding without delay. The treating hospital director’s comments reinforce the role of early action before a patient reaches hospital care.

For campuses reviewing their emergency arrangements, the proposed model provides a clear focus: prepare people to respond, make essential equipment accessible and ensure that medical transport can be activated rapidly. The calls follow the student’s death at the TISS Deonar campus and reflect the importance of having those systems in place before an emergency occurs.