Section 4.14: Student Illness or Injury

During the course of the year students will be faced with the possibility for a variety of illnesses or injuries.  To help ensure students are getting the care that they need, it is important that staff have an understanding of how to assist based on the situation.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines blood-borne pathogens as infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in people should they come into contact with another person's bodily fluids.  Should you come across a blood-borne pathogen spill (ex. vomit, blood, etc.) call Campus Safety immediately and request that someone be sent to clean the spill and the immediate surrounding area.  After you’ve called, please stay in the vicinity to ensure no one comes into contact with spill.  If the spill is in an area that can be closed off or quarantined please attempt to do so until the person who will be cleaning the spill arrives.

Critical Illness or Injury*:

    *Includes life threatening scenerios, produces unconsciousness, substaintial blood loss, and fractured/broken leg or arm 

• Call 911 immediately after assessing the situation
• Contact Campus Safety to inform them of the situation
• Provide as much information as possible about the ill or injured patient and the location of the emergency to the above responders.
• Have someone remain with the ill or injured person while calls for assistance are being made and until emergency personnel arrive (RAs should not attempt to transport the student)
• Unless trained, do not attempt to render any first aid before trained assistance arrives.
• Do not move the person who is ill or has been injured unless they are in imminent danger
• Limit your communication with the ill or injured person to quiet reassurances
• Keep the area clear and have someone watch for emergency responders to help direct them to the patient
• Follow up with an incident report turned in the following workday detailing the events that transpired
• Follow up with student periodically following the incident

Non-Critical Illness or Injury:

• Have the student contact the Health Center at x4292
• If transporting the student is necessary, the RA should assist the student in making arrangements (RAs should not attempt to transport the student)
• Encourage the student to contact their professor if they believe they will need to miss class due to their illness or injury
• Follow up with an incident report turned in the following workday detailing the events that transpired
• Follow up with student periodically following the incident

Intoxicated Student:

• The student cannot be roused
• The student has consumed large quantities of alcohol
• The student drank alcohol in combination with other drugs
• You are uncertain about the student’s health and safety

Don’t…

• leave the student alone or with someone else who is intoxicated
• give the student any medication (including aspirin) to sober them up
• give the student any water, coffee, tea or other liquid stimulants
• give the student a cold shower--the shock may cause them to pass out, thus increasing the risk for further injury
• try to walk, run or exercise the student
• attempt to constrain the student. Call Campus Safety if you need help. When intoxicated, the person may have a different perception of personal space and could become aggressive.

Do. . .

• attempt to find out what the student was drinking, how much, over what period of time and if other drugs or medications were taken
• follow up with an incident report turned in the following workday detailing the events that transpired
• follow up with the student at an appropriate time