Student Medical Emergencies

   

First Aid measures shall be undertaken whenever possible by a person with basic first aid training, but may be provided by a teacher or principal in the absence of such a person. In severe cases requiring prompt medical attention, the school may call an ambulance or transport the student to the hospital or physician location with prior approval of the parent/guardian. In an emergency situation, if the parent/guardian cannot be reached in a timely fashion, the school will take necessary steps to provide medical attention but will place the financial responsibility for all expenses incurred upon the parent/guardian.

In cases of non-life threatening illness or non-emergency situations, the parent/guardian will be notified by the school and the parent/guardian will be responsible for making all transportation arrangements from the school and providing any medical attention the parent/guardian deems necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES

School Staff: 

1. Quickly assess the situation. Ensure the situation is safe for you to approach (e.g. live electric wires, gas leak, building damage, etc.). 
2. Immediately notify the School Principal/Vice-principal/Designate. 
3. Assess the seriousness of the injury or illness. 
4. Call or have someone call 9-1-1 immediately. Be prepared to provide the school name and address, exact location (floor, room number), describe illness or type of injury and age of the victim(s). 
5. Protect yourself against contact with body fluids (blood borne pathogens).
6. Administer appropriate first aid according to your level of training until help arrives. 
7. Comfort and reassure the injured person. Do not move an injured person unless the scene is unsafe. 
8. If the injured person is not breathing or there is no pulse, ask someone to retrieve the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or Rescue Breathing until the AED is ready to use, or call staff trained in the use of the AED to respond to the scene and apply the device. 

   
 
School Principal/Vice-Principal/Designate:

1. Direct staff to call 9-1-1, if necessary, and provide appropriate information to emergency responders.  Send school staff with first responder/first aid/AED training to the scene if this has not already occurred. Assign a staff member to meet emergency medical service responders and lead them to the injured person. Assign a staff member to remain with the injured person if they are transported to the hospital. 
2. If injured person is a member of school personnel or a student, notify parent, guardian or other appropriate family member of the situation, include type of injury or illness, medical care given and location where the injured person has been transported.
3. Ensure student or staff medical information from administrative records is sent to the hospital.
4. Contact a parent/guardian and inform them of the situation/injury.
5. Notify the school counsellor or crisis response team and provide a brief description of the incident.
6. Advise faculty and staff of the situation, as appropriate. 
7. School officials should not make decisions regarding medical treatment of students who are ill or injured in the school. Parents should be contacted and instructions obtained from them.
8. Students should be required to wait in the school until such time as some directive from the parent/guardian is received. When in doubt, do not leave injured or very ill children unattended.
9. Transportation of a student by school personnel will be done only in an emergency and by the individual so designated by the school administrator.
10. Serious accidents shall be reported within 24 hours to the Superintendent’s office and to the division's Safety Officer. If an accident is caused by conditions on school premises, the principal shall take steps to remedy the situation.
11. Depending on the situation, the principal may decide to send a staff member with the child. The secretary will continue to attempt to contact a parent/guardian until someone is reached.
12. Develop and maintain written documentation of the incident. Follow-up with appropriate persons and determine if other procedures should be activated such as the Director of Clinical and Extended Services for Mental Health and Healing.  
13. Where a student accident has occurred, a report must be electronically submitted to Western Financial Group.

NOTE: Students are covered under Western Financial for injuries sustained at school under the Universal Student Accident Insurance Program. Coverage includes:

           - Loss of life
           - Dismemberment or total and permanent loss of use
           - Accidental medical reimbursement (nurse, hospital charges, wheelchair,etc)
           - Ambulance
           - Dental
           - Eyeglasses and contact lenses
 

Parents must apply to Western Financial separately for this coverage. The school does not make the application on behalf of the student. However, parents need to be made aware of this requirement.

LINKS:

Student Accident Insurance - School Information Memo

Universal Insurance Coverage - Summary

Universal Student Accident Insurance - Claim Form