Emergency Preparedness

Overview

There may be a time while you are facilitating when you experience an emergency in a classroom you are facilitating. While we do not expect these situations to happen frequently, they do happen and we want you to be as prepared as possible. Below is specific information on what to do in the event of medical emergencies, school shootings, fires, and earthquakes. If you ever have any questions or concerns about these events, please reach out to the office staff.

Medical Emergencies

General Medical Tips

First and foremost, contact help when experiencing any type of medical emergency. As a facilitator, you are not trained on medical situations. Assign someone in the class to specifically to call 911 in the classroom or call 911 yourself. Once 911 is on the way, open a chat to get extra help from the office to handle the issue.  Simply type 911 into the chat and we will send someone your way.

Contact Help

If you run across a person experiencing a medical emergency contact 911.
  • Tell dispatcher the following information:
    • Location (building and room number, if applicable)
    • Name, age, and gender of person (if known)
    • Current condition (is the person alert, conscious, breathing, etc)
  • Remain on the call until help arrives
  • If possible, arrange for another person to meet EMS and direct them to the exact location
    • If others are available, have them clear a path for EMS to access the location
  • Gather more information
    • Check for medical alert bracelets or necklaces
    • Remove anything from around the person's neck
    • If alert and able, ask the individual about any allergies or medical conditions they have
  • While waiting for help to arrive
    • Provide first aid to the best of your ability
    • Do your best to prevent exposure to bodily fluids
    • Only if you are trained, do CPR, if needed, and have someone check for an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Each building should have at least one.

What to do in Specific Situations

Here is a little more information on what to do during specific medical situations that you are more likely experience in a classroom setting. Please remember, the most important thing to do is call 911.

When to Call 9-1-1
  • Siezure lasts more than 5 minutes
  • The person is experiencing difficulty after the siezure is over
  • The person has multiple siezures in a row
  • The person gets hurt during the siezure
  • The person has an underlying health condition
How to Help During a Siezure
  • Ease the person to the floor
  • Turn them gently to the left side. Mouth angled down to ensure salivia doesn't block their airway
  • Clear the area around them (no people or things that can harm them while siezing)
  • Put something soft and flat under their head (like a coat)
  • Remove eyewear and loosen clothing around their neck
  • Time the duration of the seizure
  • Check to see if they are wearing a medical bracelet
  • Stay with the person until siezure ends or help arrives
Things Not to do During a Siezure
  • Do not try to hold the person still
  • Do not put anything in their mouth 
  • Do not perform CPR
How to Help After a Siezure
  • Help the person sit in a safe place
  • Tell them what happened
  • Be sensitive and encourage students to do the same
  • Make sure the person has a safe way to get back home

When to Provide First Aid
If a person is choking and can still forcefully cough, let them keep coughing.

If a person is unable to cough, talk, cry, or laugh, give first aid to the person.
  • Alternate between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts OR do just abdominal thrusts if you are not trained on the back-blow technique.
  • If someone else is in the classroom with you, have one person perform abdominal thrusts and the other call 911. If not, it is more important to try and dislodge the object before calling 911.
  • If the person is unconscious and you are trained in CPR, start CPR.
  • NEVER stick your fingers in the mouth of the person choking. If you can see the object and the person conscious and able to not bite your finger, do a finger sweep to try to dislodge the object.

When someone has fainted, here are the following steps to follow:
  1. Lower the person to the ground and position them on their side (If they are standing, do your best to catch them) 
  2. Have someone call 911
  3. Loosen any tight clothing and elevate feet above the level of their head
  4. Check to see if the person is breathing, has a pulse, and if anything is lodged in their throat
  5. Stay with the person and monitor their breathing. Make sure to keep them warm until help arrives
  6. If they are responsive, have them slowly (over a few minutes) move to a sitting position

Always call 911 in the event of a stroke or heart attack, even if the symptoms come and go quickly.

Symptoms to Look For:
  1. Ask them to smile, does one side droop?
  2. Have them raise both arms, does one drift downward?
  3. Ask them to say something, does is sound strange or not make sense?
Actions to Take:
  • Help the person sit down
  • Talk calmly to the person
  • Remain with the person until responders arrive
Do Not:
  • Let the person go to sleep
  • Give the person medication, food, or drinks

If a person experiences anaphylasix or another severe allergic reation, give epinephrine immediately and call 911.

Once ephinephrine is administered (if available),
  • Help the person sit in a comfortable position
  • Monitor their breathing
    • If the person is unresponsive, lay them on their left side and make sure they continue to breath

If the individual has experienced a nosebleed for 15 minutes or longer, call 911. If there is an injury that causes heavy bleeding, have someone call 911. If there is an embedded object in the wound, do not remove the object.
  • When coming into contact with bodily fluids, remember to first put on disposable gloves
  • Have the person lie down and watch for signs of shock
    • nauseous or vomiting
    • altered level of consciousness
    • pale and cool skin
    • blue tinge to lips and fingernails
    • pulse and/or breathing are rapid
  • Apply direct pressure and continue to add more when cloth is soaked through (do not remove any cloth before adding a new layer)

An overdose occurs when someone consumes more than a safe or typical amount of a substance, such as a prescription medication or drug. It’s important to recognize the signs and act fast, as an overdose can be life-threatening.

Stimulant Overdose Signs
Stimulants include drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, or methamphetamine. Symptoms of a stimulant overdose may include:

  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Hot, flushed skin
  • A dangerous increase in body temperature
  • Rapid breathing
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Jerking limbs
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Chest pain
  • Seizures
Opioid Overdose Signs
Opioids include drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, heroin, fentanyl. Signs of an opioid overdose include:

  • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
  • Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
  • Slow, shallow breathing
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Pale, blue, or cold skin
Responding to an Overdose
If you suspect someone is overdosing, it’s crucial to act immediately:
  1. Call 911 immediately. Even if you aren’t sure, it’s best to treat it like an overdose.
  2. Administer naloxone, if available. This medication can quickly stop an opioid overdose.
  3. Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
  4. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
  5. Stay with the person until emergency workers arrive.
Remember, quick response to an overdose, including administering naloxone and calling for medical assistance, can prevent brain injury and death.

For more information go to:
https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/treatment/overdose-response/index.html

School Shooting

An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Because active shooter situations are often over within 10-15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation. Things to consider ahead of time:

  • Be aware of your environment and any possible dangers. Think "What if...?"
  • Take note of the two nearest exits in any facility you visit
  • Sign up for CODE BLUE, the USU Emergency notification system

When an Active Shooter is in your vicinity

  1. Run. Have an escape route and plan in mind. Leave your belongings behind. Keep your hands visible
  2. Hide. Hide in an area out of the shooter's view. Block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors. Silence your cell phone and/or other devices
  3. Fight. As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger. Attempt to incapacitate the shooter. Act with physical aggression and throw items at the active shooter
Call 911 when it is safe to do so. When calling 911, provide the following information:
  • Location of the active shooter
  • Number of shooters
  • Physical description of shooters
  • Number and type of weapons held by shooters
  • Number of potential victims at the location

When Law Enforcement Arrives, Remain calm and follow instructions. Put down any items in your hands (i.e., bags, jackets). Raise hands and spread fingers and keep hands visible at all times Avoid quick movements toward officers such as holding on to them for safety Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling. Do not stop to ask officers for help or direction when evacuating

Other Emergency Situations

Fire

If you discover a fire:

  • Immediately activate the nearest fire alarm pull station, located near stairwells or exit doors. If there are no pull stations in your building, immediately dial 911.
  • Close your door.
  • Exit the building.
  • Dial 911.

If you hear the fire alarm:

  • Take your immediate possessions (wallet/purse, keys, coat, etc. and exit the building.
  • Close your door.
  • Exit the building.
  • Never use elevators during a fire.

Earthquake

During an earthquake: DROP, COVER, and HOLD

  • DROP - Drop down on the floor
  • COVER - Take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture. If that is not possible, seek cover against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid danger spots near windows, hanging objects, mirrors or tall furniture.
  • HOLD - If you take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, HOLD on and be prepared to move with it. Hold the position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move.

After the earthquake:

  • After the shaking stops, check yourself and others for injuries, provide first aid, and move toward the nearest exit or alternate. DO NOT move victims unless absolutely necessary
  • Replace telephone handsets that have been shaken off. DO NOT use telephones except to report fires and medical emergencies.
  • DO NOT use matches or other open flames.
  • DO NOT use elevators in the building.
  • Watch for falling debris and be aware of aftershocks.
  • Do not leave the area/campus without reporting your status to your supervisor or department team leader.
  • Listen to emergency alert systems (AM/FM radios, Code Blue Alerts, etc.) for emergency information.

Helpful Resources

Where to find AEDs on campus:
https://www.usu.edu/map/ (under emergency, select AED)
Choking Resources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637#
Seizure Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/first-aid.htm
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/epilepsy-first-aid-and-safety
Details on Campus Emergencies:
https://www.usu.edu/dps/

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