FAST AID FOR TEACHERS
CLINIC extensions: 44015; 44016
SEIZURE DISORDER:
- Remain calm
- Note the time the seizure begins and ends
- Move other students away
- Do not put anything in the mouth of the student
- Do not restrain student
- Move any object away that may injure student (desks)
- Turn student on his/her side to allow oral secretions to drain
- If possible put something soft under student’s head
- Call for the nurse, advise of name of student and situation
HYPOGLYCEMIA: LOW BLOOD SUGAR
SYMPTOMS: ALWAYS AN EMERGENCY
- Pale, excessive sweating, dizziness, shakiness, weakness
- Headache, pounding heart, impaired vision
- Hunger
- Irritability, anxiety, slurred speech
- Personality change
- Unable to awaken (severe hypoglycemia)
WHAT TO DO:
WHEN IN DOUBT ALWAYS TREAT FOR HYPOGLYCEMIA
- Immediately give food containing sugar: 4 oz. of juice; 6 oz. of regular soda, 3-4 glucose tablets (look in student’s back pack); candy bar
- Call for nurse or trained diabetic care attendant:
Jacqui Bourland: teacher in room ______(fill in blank)
Tonya Scherzer: clinic assistant
Advise them of name of student and situation
HYPERGLYCEMIA: HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
SYMPTOMS
- Frequent urination
- Dry mouth, extreme thirst
- Drowsiness, fatigue, flushed skin
- Nausea, stomach ache, fruity breath
WHAT TO DO:
- Send to clinic, may need an escort
- Call for nurse if needed, advise of name of student and situation
SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION:
SYMPTOMS
- SUDDEN ONSET, USUALLY WITHIN MINUTES
- Itching & swelling of lips, tongue, mouth
- Itching and /or sense of tightness in throat, hoarseness, hacking cough
- Hives, itching rash, swelling about face or extremities
- Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
- Shortness of breath, repetitive coughing, wheezing
- Thready pulse, faintness, dizziness
Severity of symptoms can change quickly. All of above are a potentially life-threatening situation.
WHAT TO DO:
- Immediate action is required
- Call for nurse: be ready to advise of student’s name and situation. Epi-pen and appropriate meds may be in the school clinic
- Ask student if he/she carries own Epi-Pen. If so assist the student as needed.
- FYI: if the Epi-pen is used, 911 will be called by the NURSE. Epi-pens last 15 minutes and symptoms will re-appear
- If no nurse is available and you assist a student with the Epi-pen, you will need to call 911 and give the appropriate information.
ASTHMA:
- Coughing, wheezing, mouth breathing
- Shortness of breath, rapid breathing
- Verbal complaints of “my chest is tight/hurts, cannot catch my breath, mouth is dry”
- Clipped speech, speaking in short choppy sentences
WHAT TO DO:
- Allow student access to his/her prescribed medicine
- Escort to nurse
- Call for nurse and advise of name and situation
FIRST AID IN CLASSROOMS
Procedure to follow during an emergency:
- Ascertain extent of injury/illness
- Call the nurse with information and nature of emergency
- The NURSE will notify parents as needed
- If student is able to walk to clinic, send with escort
FIRST AID FOR:
Fainting
- To prevent fainting, have student lower head between knees or lie down on floor with legs elevated.
- If student has already fainted, lie him/her on floor and elevate legs, call for nurse
- If student wakes up, encourage them to stay on floor with legs elevated
External Bleeding:
- Follow OSHA/ Blood Borne Pathogen precautions attached to this packet: use non-latex gloves or find a plastic barrier to apply pressure over wound with paper towels/cloth etc. if student is not able to hold own wound
- If an extremity is involved, elevate it
Nose Bleed:
- Pinch nostrils together
- Keep student upright
- Send to clinic
- Follow “Universal Precautions in the School Setting”
Head Injury:
- Keep student quiet and calm
- Call for nurse, advise of name and situation
- Apply pressure if needed
- Observe for swelling, bleeding from nose, ears or mouth
Do not move student unless vomiting begins; then log roll to side position and support head and neck
Back or Neck injury:
SYMPTOMS: pain, tingling, numbness, paralysis
- Keep student in original position unless they are in danger of another injury
- Log roll to side and support head, neck and back if vomiting begins
- Call for nurse, advise of name and situation
Fractures:
SYMPTOMS: pain with movement, swelling, tenderness to touch, deformity
- Keep student warm and quiet
- Keep broken bone immobile
- Call for nurse, advise of name and situation
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