Medical Emergencies

We hate to think about bad things happening to our children, but playground falls, allergic reactions, and asthmatic attacks are all possibilities and schools need to have policies in place that help school staff respond effectively and quickly.

[Download free checklist -- PDF format]

Here are six questions to ask the principal at your child's school:

• What are the procedures to be followed when a medical emergency occurs in a classroom or on the school campus?
  
  
• Who is responsible for implementing the procedures?
  
  
• What training in medical emergency procedures has been made available to school staff and how many have received training?
  
  

• Are the staff that are trained to respond available at the school full-time?

• Are older students informed of medical emergency procedures?
  
  
• How can parents support implementation of effective medical emergency procedures at school?

Resources: For information on medical emergency procedures adopted by some school districts or recommended by state governments, try the following resources:

• Montgomery County Public Schools (MD). Regulation: Health Care for Allergic Children.
  www.mcps.k12.md.us/departments/policy/pdf/jpdra.pdf
  
  
• Portland (OR) Public Schools.Administrative Directive 3.40.100-AD. First Aid and Emergency Care
  www.pps.k12.or.us/directives-c/pol-reg/3/40/100_AD.pdf
  
  
• Virginia School Health Guidelines. First Aid Guide for School Emergencies.
  www.vahealth.org/schoolhealth/appendixb.pdf