When schools don't have nurses....

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Are the non-medical staff trained in medical emergencies?

there is this incident in NY

Family says no one helped brain-dead girl who choked on school lunch

Specializes in School Nurse, Pediatrics, Surgical.

We have to have at least 10 staff members CPR trained at each campus in my school district. I read this the other day and am just shocked that no one helped at the school!!

Specializes in School Nurse, Pediatrics, Surgical.

This article says the procedures were followed but they don't say what that is. Very sad for this family!

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

There have been mixed versions whether this was an in school or after school program. 911 dispatch will talk a caller through choking protocol. It's not clear who called and whether the caller had to leave the room to make the call. People panic and I'm betting this is what happened

The EMT actually left out of an ambulance mid call (leaving the driver alone with an elderly patient mid transport) and not only did not go back to his patient once ALS/EMS was on scene but drive the NYC EMS ambulance fully abandoning his partner and patient that was being billed for his services.

Specializes in Peds, Oncology.

In my state, all teachers have to be CPR/First aid certified in order to renew or receive their teaching licenses, so in essence they are all trained to respond to emergencies. A few of my schools hold special educational certifications (national) that require all staff to be trained to respond to emergencies, so I have done all the necessary trainings there. On top of them, I have a handful of people who are trained in CPR/first aid/meds/to run the clinic when I am not in that particular building.

So tragic! I am shock that nobody tried to help her. :bored:

I am both shocked and not shocked. I have many people trained on my campus for CPR, choking, first aid. And the times even when minor things happen - everyone just panics and calls for me and any "knowledge" just seems to go out the window.

Specializes in Peds, Oncology.
I am both shocked and not shocked. I have many people trained on my campus for CPR, choking, first aid. And the times even when minor things happen - everyone just panics and calls for me and any "knowledge" just seems to go out the window.

This is VERY true. Or I have times when I should have been called and they didn't call, and I read later that little Susie was having breathing difficulties and had no inhaler in the clinic, etc. Then you do re-education, and they call you for every little thing... no happy medium.

I agree that staff would probably turn to me if this happened. but what gets me is people allegedly doing NOTHING in this case, not even 911 until it was too late.

No excuse for that...

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

How sad for this child and family. I am very blessed that if I am ever out there, one of our teachers is a trained first responder, so I know the staff would go to her in the event that I am not here. And in the event of a true emergency I would probably call on her to assist.

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