MEDICAL RESPONSE
Medical emergencies may be associated with the specific situations outlined in this Manual, or they may occur as independent accidents. All UNH employees should know how to react in a medical emergency. Department Safety Coordinators can help by providing incident management help. All injuries should be reported to the Department Supervisor.
In medical emergencies, call Dispatch at 911 to request an ambulance.
In medical situations that result from more complex building emergencies or area wide disasters, professional help may be delayed. Report all injuries to 911 immediately and administer basic emergency assistance. Stay with the victims unless a building evacuation is ordered. Do not move anyone that has fallen or could have the potential for a neck/back trauma unless his or her life could be jeopardized by staying in that location (fire, chemical spill, etc.).
Dialing 911 is the most important action to be taken in any medical emergency situation. It should be done before anything else, if possible. Without immediate medical response, the patient's condition may deteriorate. Until help arrives, the first person on the scene should make all attempts to calm and reassure the patient that help is on its way.
These basic emergency care techniques can be used for all non-trained (First Aid/CPR) individuals at the scene.
- • Dial 911.
- • Calm the injured individual.
- • Secure the scene; ensure that no further injuries will occur.
- • Take all Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) precautions for your protection as well as the injured person.
- • If there is bleeding, instruct the individual to apply pressure or you may assist if BBP precautions can be taken.
- • If there is a burn, encourage the individual to place the effected area under cool (not cold) water. Do NOT apply ointment, ice, dressing, etc.
- • If there appears to be a broken, sprained, strained limb and there is obvious swelling, offer the individual a cold pack (if available) and instruct the individual to stay still.
- • Do NOT move an individual who has fallen or may have a neck/back trauma unless his/her life is threatened in their current position.
- • Cover the individual if possible to avoid the potential for shock.
- • Do not administer any medications unless the injured person instructs you to and has their prescription medication with them (for example: epinephrine ‘pen’ for allergies, heart medication, etc.).
- • If emergency response will be delayed, follow the instructions that the dispatcher gives over the phone until emergency response personnel arrive.