Medical Emergencies in the ClassroomRobert J. Flaherty, MDStudent Health ServiceMontana State University-BozemanAt some point in your academic career, you will have a medical emergency in your classroom. This articleshould help you cope successfully.BE PREPARED• Invite your students to confidentially inform you if they have medical conditions that might becomeapparent during class. These medical conditions could include seizure disorders, asthma,syncope (fainting spells), allergic reactions and severe heart disease.• Ask the student how they usually deal with their acute medical problem. They have usually beenthrough an acute attack, and know how you can best assist them.• Quite a few college students have been trained as Emergency Medical Technicians or other “firstresponders”, and they would be valuable resources in a classroom emergency. It is likely that atleast one such student is in your classroom - don’t hesitate to ask them for help.• If you do not know Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), take a CPR course through the RedCross (587-4611), Bozeman Deaconess Hospital (595-5000), or the American Heart Association(800-242-8721). Knowing CPR is important, not only for your students, but for family emergenciesas well. If your building has an Automatic External Defibrillator, make sure you know how to useit.• If you teach a lab or other class where students could be exposed to hazardous chemicals, makesure you have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) readily available in the lab for eachchemical. The MSDS contains very important first aid information that you and the physicians willneed to treat an exposed student. Contact the MSU Office of Safety and Risk Management (994-2711) for more information.• If a classroom emergency occurs and you are in doubt about how to proceed, call 911.RESOURCESAll students taking seven or more credits automatically pay a Student Health fee at the time of classregistration, which allows them to see a SHS health care provider at no charge. There may be, however,a charge for lab and x-ray tests and for medications. Students can make appointments for care, or can beseen on a walk-in basis in the Acute Care area of the SHS.Classroom Emergencies – p. 2 of 4The SHS is located between the SUB and the EPS building on the east end of campus. During the falland spring semesters, the SHS is open 8:00am-4:30pm weekdays and 8:00-11:30am on Saturdays.During the summer semester the SHS is open 9:00am-4:00pm weekdays and is closed on weekends.The SHS is open 8:00am-11:30am on weekdays during semester breaks.The SHS is unable to send staff members to respond to an emergency. If you feel a student needs to beattended to on site, call 911.Classroom Emergencies – p. 3 of 4RESPONDING TO CLASSROOM EMERGENCIESThe following algorithm will help you respond to the most common classroom emergencies. Foremergencies not covered by the algorithm, call the SHS (994-2311) or 911.BleedingYES• Send with a companion to Student Health Service (8:00am-4:30pm weekdays, 8:00am-11:30am Saturday) or, if afterhours, to Bozeman Urgent Care, Family Doctors’ Urgent Careor Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room• If not able to go to SHS or other clinic, or if in doubt, call 911NOChemicalexposureYESNO• Send with a companion to Student Health Service (8:00am-4:30pm weekdays, 8:00am-11:30am Saturday) or, if afterhours, to Bozeman Urgent Care, Family Doctors’ Urgent Careor Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room – BRINGTHE MSDS FOR THE CHEMICAL!• If not able to go to SHS or other clinic, or if in doubt, call 911DifficultybreathingYESNO• Have the patient take their own medications, if available• If able, send with a companion to Student Health Service(8:00am-4:30pm weekdays, 8:00am-11:30am Saturday) or, ifafter hours, to Bozeman Urgent Care, Family Doctors’ UrgentCare or Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room• If not able to go to SHS or other clinic, or if in doubt, call 911SeizureYESNO• Protect from injury, e.g. pad/pillow for head• Do not put anything in their mouth – they will not “swallowtheir tongue”• Let the seizure run its course - it should last less than 5minutes• Once they have recovered, and if able, send with acompanion to Student Health Service (8:00am-4:30pmweekdays, 8:00am-11:30am Saturday) or, if after hours, toBozeman Urgent Care, Family Doctors’ Urgent Care orBozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room• If not able to go to SHS or other clinic, or if in doubt, call 911Loss ofconscious-nessnessYES• Try to arouse by shaking and shouting their name• Check airway, breathing, circulation• If necessary, begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)• Call 911Classroom Emergencies – p. 4 of 4EMERGENCY ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERSStudent Health Service – 994-2311Emergency (Campus Police) – 911 from any campus phoneBozeman Deaconess Hospital, 915 Highland Blvd. – 595-5000Bozeman Urgent Care, 1006 W. Main – 586-8711Family Doctors’ Urgent Care, 120 North 19th – 556-9740Rev.