Parents and guardians want to feel that their children are protected and safe when they go to school, but many of those adults don’t think about how teachers respond to medical emergencies in the classroom. A medical emergency can range from a child with asthma having breathing troubles to a student hitting his or her head on the floor or a desk. Though not all schools have procedures in place that prepare teachers for emergencies, some schools do implement regulations to better help keep kids safe.
CPR Certification
According to a survey done by the American Association of Pediatrics, 18 percent of teachers offered some type of medical care to a large group of students in a single school year. One of the best ways that schools help students is with CPR certification, but few schools across the country offer any type of training for teachers. Teachers can take classes at the YMCA and through other organizations. This training teaches them life saving techniques that they can use in the classroom and how they can help students with certain medical conditions.
Training in the Classroom
A small number of schools across the country now offer training inside the classroom. Prior to the kids coming back to school in the fall, teachers meet with administrators and experts to learn what to do during different situations. These schools focus on helping teachers understand what they need to do to keep the ill or injured student and other students in the classroom calm. They also learn how to contact the authorities and what to do until help arrives. If the school has a nurse on staff, teachers will also learn how to alert the nurse without causing a panic.
Creating Procedures to Follow
Having the right procedures in place can help teachers and students stay calm. Many schools now have preparedness plans in place following a number of school shootings and other dangerous incidents across the country. Many schools tell teachers to lock the door and stay inside the room until help arrives. During a medical emergency, procedure might dictate that the teacher send a student to alert the principal or nurse. The person in charge will then call 911. Procedure may also require that teachers avoid moving the student and keep others in the classroom away.
Keeping Equipment and Supplies on Hand
Another way in which teachers are prepared for medical emergencies in the classroom is with training on different types of equipment and supplies. While teachers might not have access to machines that can provide an electric shock to the heart, they may have access to bandages, antiseptics and other supplies. Teachers may receive training that teachers them how to look for signs of concussion, how to care for a broken bone and how to clean a minor wound. Though most schools require that the teacher call a medical professional for help, teachers can still learn how to care for a student until that child sees a doctor.
Concussions, broken bones and other types of injuries can easily occur when children play in the classroom. While teachers cannot treat more serious medical conditions, they can treat minor injuries and help students feel more comfortable. Some schools now offer training that shows teachers how to handle different medical emergencies in the classroom.
Related Resource: What are Continuing Education Courses?
