Fayetteville-Manlius Schools > About Us > Required Notifications > School District Safety Plan > Table of Contents / General Guidelines > Medical Needs

Medical Needs

Where individuals require medical attention as a result of accident or injury general first aid should be provided by qualified persons until more expert help is secured.

Each building should maintain a listing of the staff members who are qualified to provide first aid (i.e. First Aide, Basic Life Support, EMT. etc.).

Reporting a Medical Emergency: When confronted with a medical emergency it is important to call, or have someone call, 9-1-1 to summon local emergency responders before taking any other action. Give the location of the emergency, give clear instructions and include readily noticeable markers that will help them spot the scene. Then, if feasible, survey the scene, give the dispatcher information about what happened and inform of hazards such as fire, fumes or electrical wires, the number of injured persons, the current condition or symptoms, and any actions taken so far. Assign someone to meet the emergency responders.

What To Do Until Help Arrives: If it is safe to reach the victim, do a primary survey. If the victim has stopped breathing, determine responsiveness. If the victim appears unconscious, gently tap a shoulder and shout “Are you okay?” If unresponsive, notify the School Nurse, immediately.

Provide details about the condition of the victim.

Ideally the School Nurse will call 9-1-1 and bring the AED. During off hours the building custodial staff has been trained to provide CPR in an emergency. For detailed CPR or First Aid basics, see First Aid safety card with AED.

Below is a summary of medical emergency assistance protocols that can be employed while waiting for emergency response personnel to respond.

To Stop Bleeding

  • Apply direct pressure to the wound. You should always wear non-latex, Vinyl or rubber gloves.
  • Maintain the pressure until the bleeding stops.
  • If bleeding is from an arm or leg, and if the limb is not broken, elevate it above the level of the heart.
  • If bleeding is life-threatening (spurting or profuse), initiate Stop the Bleed protocol (see below).

Treatment for Shock

  • Do whatever is necessary to keep the person’s body temperature as close to normal as possible.
  • Attempt to rule out a broken neck or back.
  • If no back or neck injury is present, slightly elevate the person’s legs.

Choking

  • Stand behind the person.
  • Place the thumb side of one of your fists against the person’s abdomen, just above the navel and well below the end of the breastbone.
  • Grasp your fist with your other hand, give an abdominal thrust Inward and upward with force. Repeat until the object comes out.

STOP THE BLEED PROTOCOL

Save a life: What everyone should know to stop bleeding after an injury

  • Ensure your safety.
  • Look for life-threatening bleeding.
  • Is a trauma first aid kit available?

If NO

  • Use any clean cloth.
  • Apply steady direct pressure directly on the wound. 

If Yes

Where is the wound?

Arm/Leg
  • If a tourniquet is available, apply above the bleeding site and tighten until the bleeding stops. 
  • If a tourniquet is not available, pack the wound with bleeding control (hemostatic) gauze (preferred), any gauze or clean cloth, and apply steady direct pressure. 
Neck/Shoulder/Groin
  • Pack the wound with bleeding control (hemostatic) gauze (preferred), any gauze or clean cloth, and apply steady direct pressure. 

CPR TRAINING

Medical emergency- Cardiac arrest

1. ASSESS THE SCENE

Assess the situation around the victim. Make sure the scene is safe for you, the rescuer.

2. ASSESS THE VICTIM

Check the victim for unresponsiveness. Call out to, and firmly tap, victim and shout “Are you OK? Are you OK?” 

3. IF NO RESPONSE

Call 9-1-1 or direct bystander to call 9-1-1 (have that person come back to you to make sure the call has been made; they may have to escort the ambulance personnel to the victim). 

Request an AED and return to the victim and start CPR. 

4. PUMP

If the victim is not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest 30 times between the nipple line, 2 to 2.4 inches deep for an adult (2 inches deep for a child victim (pre-pubescent). Have the chest come all the way back up to its original position.

The rate of compressions should be at least 100-120 per minute (30 compressions between 15-18 seconds). 

5. BLOW

Tilt the head back and lift chin. Pinch nose and cover mouth with yours and blow normal breath and look for chest rise.

Give two normal breaths. Use barrier mask if available. 

Each breath should take one full second, just enough to make the chest rise. Do not spend more than 10 seconds giving breaths.

6. Continue with 30 pumps and 2 breaths until help arrives or the AED becomes available 

7. Stop CPR when AED (defibrillator) arrives and the pads are in place. Follow voice prompts of defibrillator or when the paramedics tell you to stop

Two-person CPR

In two-person CPR, the person compressing the chest stops while the other person gives mouth-to-mouth breathing. Switch positions or persons after completing two minutes (5 cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths) to make sure the compressions reman strong and constant.

When the defibrillator (AED) arrives, stop CPR and place the pads on the bare chest and follow the voice prompts or when paramedics tell you to stop. 

 

Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s)

CPR Should be continuous , including during application of the pads. CPR should be resumed immediately following analysis by the AED.

Compression Only CPR can be used for both teens and adults if necessary.

AED’s are located throughout the District.

A. Day Time School Hours

Any one in need of an AED should call “911” and summon for an AED trained person to the location by calling the Main Office. The Nurse will proceed with the AED to the site of the emergency and direct the emergency response until 911 emergency responders arrive. The Nurse will tell someone to notify the Building Principal.

B. After School/Evening Hours

Anyone in need of an AED should call “911” and then notify the Head Custodian to summon a trained person to come to the emergency location with an AED. The trained person should respond by calling the trained personnel within the building and indicate they are on their way.

C. If the AED is utilized in any emergency situation, immediate notification will be provided to the Program Administrator, or his/her designee, who shall immediately notify:

  1. The school nurse (if applicable)
  2. District AED Coordinator
  3. FM Safety Office (315-692-1253) and BOCES Health & Safety Officer (315-431-8591)
  4. CNY EMS Council, to notify of device use.
    Go to www.cnyems.org and click on PAD and print the post card. Mail the information to the address below immediately.
    NY EMS Program Administrative Asst.- Tamara Eckstadt
    315-701-5707
    50 Presidential Plaza, Suite LL1
    Syracuse, NY 13202
  5. Dr. Julie Colvin,
    PAD Program Oversight/Quality Assurance
    4104 Medical Center Drive #101D
    Fayetteville, NY 13066   
    315-637-7878

Students with an Allergy

If a student displays signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction and/or reports an exposure to their allergen, school personnel should immediately implement the school’s policy on allergy anaphylaxis which should require that immediate action be taken, such as:

  • Notify the school nurse (if available) and initiate the Emergency Care Plan;
  • Locate student’s epinephrine immediately;
  • Implement the student’s Emergency Care Plan; and
  • Call 911 if epinephrine has been administered.

Important considerations:

  • Know your school’s emergency procedures and protocols in advance of an emergency and be prepared to follow them;
  • In the presence of symptoms, GIVE EPI-PEN WITHOUT DELAY! Do not wait! Note time administered;
  • Use a calm and reassuring voice with the student and do not leave him/her unattended;
  • Do not attempt to stand the student up or ask them to walk around (this may increase the danger to the student in the event of a reaction)
  • Implement school board approved emergency procedures; and
  • Call 911 to activate the Emergency Medical System – EMS; and Request Advanced Life Support – ALS (epinephrine lasts for approximately 15 – 20 minutes after which an additional dose may be required) Ambulances often don’t carry epinephrine, but epinephrine will be brought when requesting Advanced Life Support;
  • Have ambulance dispatcher repeat back the school address and specific entrance that should be used and have someone meet them at the door to escort them to your exact location.
  • Notify school administrator.
  • Gather accurate information about the reaction and the student to give to ambulance personnel when they arrive.

EpiPen

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

  • NEVER PUT THUMB, FINGERS, OR HAND OVER BLACK TIP.
  • DO NOT REMOVE GRAY SAFETY RELEASE UNTIL READY TO USE.
  • DO NOT USE IF SOLUTION IS DISCOLORED OR RED FLAG APPEARS IN CLEAR WINDOW.
  • DO NOT PLACE PATIENT INSERT OR ANY OTHER FOREIGN OBJECTS IN CARRIER WITH AUTO- INJECTOR, AS THIS MAY PREVENT YOU FROM REMOVING THE AUTO- INJECTOR FOR USE.
    1. Unscrew the yellow or green cap off of the EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr carrying case and remove the EpiPen® or EpiPen® Jr auto-injector from its storage tube.
    2. Grasp unit with the black tip pointing downward.
    3. Form fist around the unit (black tip down).
    4. With your other hand, pull off the gray safety release.
    5. Hold black tip near outer thigh.
    6. Swing and jab firmly into outer thigh until it clicks so that unit is perpendicular (at a 90° angle) to the thigh. (Auto-injector is designed to work through clothing.)
    7. Hold firmly against thigh for approximately 10 seconds. (The injection is now complete. Window on auto-injector will show red.)
    8. Remove unit from thigh and massage injection area for 10 seconds.
    9. Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
    10. Carefully place the used auto-injector (without bending the needle), needle-end first, into the storage tube of the carrying case that provides built-in needle protection after use. Then screw the cap of the storage tube back on completely, and take it with you to the hospital emergency room.

Note: Most of the liquid (about 90%) stays in the auto-injector and cannot be reused. However, you have received the correct dose of the medication if the red flag appears in window.

WARNING

  • NEVER put thumb, fingers, or hand over black tip. The needle comes out of black tip. Accidental injection into hands or feet may result in loss of blood flow to these areas. If this happens, go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
  • EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr should be injected only into the outer thigh (see “Directions for Use”).
  • Do NOT remove gray safety release until ready to use.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER USE

  • Go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911. You may need further medical attention. Take your used auto-injector with you.
  • Tell the doctor that you have received an injection of epinephrine in your thigh.
  • Give your used EpiPen® /EpiPen® Jr to the doctor for inspection and proper disposal.

Students with Diabetes

All prescribed and non-prescribed medications must be administered by the school nurse, unless a student is authorized by a physician to carry and self-administer his/her own medication. During emergency situations
where a nurse is not available, glucagon can be administered by a trained adult to a student diagnosed with diabetes as described below.

Students with diabetes may be vulnerable to episodes that render them incapacitated. In emergency circumstances with students diagnosed with diabetes, the student’s “Diabetes Care Plan” needs to be followed. This care plan outlines individualized procedures established in cooperation between the parent/legal guardian and the student’s family physician.

The Diabetes Care Plan typically provides the following information:

  1. Emergency and physician contact information;
  2. Blood glucose monitoring;
  3. Use of insulin, meals and snacks;
  4. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
  5. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Glucagon

During low blood sugar episodes, glucagon should be given if the student is unconscious, having a seizure (convulsion) or unable to swallow. If required, glucagon should be administered promptly by the school nurse or other licensed healthcare professional and 9-1-1 called for emergency assistance. Parents, or parental emergency contact, should also be called as listed in the student’s Care Plan.

A school nurse, who is a registered nurse, may also train a school staff member to administer a prescribed glucagon injection to a student diagnosed with diabetes needing treatment for hypoglycemia. A school staff member who has been so trained will only administer a prescribed glucagon injection in an emergency situation where an appropriately licensed person is not available. Additional provisions and certain restrictions apply to Field Trips and After-school Activities as detailed in Board Policy 8460. See also Board Policy 7521 “Students with Life Threatening Health Conditions”.