3431P - Emergency Treatment Procedure

Procedure 3431P

STUDENTS 

Emergency Treatment

At least one administrator, one clerical staff member, and one teacher will be trained in first aid procedures at each school.  Other staff are encouraged to become trained and/or maintain skills in recognized first aid procedures.  Staff have the affirmative duty to aid an injured student and act in a reasonable and prudent manner in obtaining immediate care.  The staff member who exercises his or her judgment and skills in aiding an injured person during the school day or during a school event is protected by the district’s liability insurance except when the individual is operating outside the scope of his or her employment or designated duties.

Any child who appears to be very ill or who has received a serious injury should be either sent home or to a physician or hospital as quickly as possible.  The principal shall be responsible for making the appropriate decision.  In the event the principal or nurse is not available, the staff member designated by the principal to take charge in emergency situations shall be responsible for the decision.  For a life-threatening emergency, call for an ambulance.  The principal or responsible designated person should contact the parent(s) or guardian(s) as quickly as possible to determine whether the child should:

A. Be sent to a hospital, or
B. Be sent to a doctor, or
C. Be sent home, or
D. Remain at school.

If the parent(s) or guardian(s) cannot be contacted, call the emergency number listed on the child’s enrollment card to determine the next course of action.

If a seriously ill or injured child is sent home or to the hospital by private automobile, someone trained in first aid should accompany the child.

If illness or injury is not life-threatening, the parent(s) or guardian(s) should arrange transportation.  If ambulance service is required, secure permission from the parent(s) or guardian(s) to call one when possible.  The child should be sent to the hospital of the parent(s) or guardian(s) choice.

If the injury is deemed to be minor, the trained staff member should:

A. Administer first aid to the child as necessary;
B. Notify the nurse, principal or responsible designated person;
C. Remain with the child until released by the principal or designee; and
D. The nurse or other responsible person so designated should make the decision whether an ill or injured child who has received first aid should return to class.  If there is any doubt the parent(s) or guardian(s) should be consulted.

If a serious injury occurs during a physical education class or during an athletic team practice or game, emergency procedures shall be conducted in the following manner:

A. Stop play immediately at first indication of possible injury or illness.
B. Look for obvious deformity or other deviation from the athlete’s normal structure or motion.
C. Listen to the athlete’s description of his complaint and how the injury occurred.
D. Move the athlete only after serious injury is ruled out.

The teacher or coach should avoid being hurried into moving an athlete who has been hurt.  He or she should attempt to restore life-sustaining functions (e.g., stop/repair uncontrolled bleeding, suffocation, cardiac arrest) before moving the athlete to an emergency facility.  He or she should obtain medical supervision if at all possible before moving an athlete with a suspected neck or spinal injury.  If no physician is available, proceed with caution according to first aid procedures.  If he or she must accompany the student to a doctor, the activity or event should cease.

An accident report must be completed by the activity director, as soon as possible, from information provided by the person at the scene of the accident.  The written report should include a description of the circumstances of the illness or injury and procedures followed in handling it at school.  A copy should be included in the student’s folder and a copy should be sent to the superintendent.

School staff may not accept and may not agree to comply with directives to physicians that would withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment from students.

 

Adoption Date:           August 23, 1994