Student Health Clinic

03:85:00 Student Health Clinic Emergency Medical Services

1. The purpose of this policy/procedure is to identify the types of emergencies which may occur on campus and describe the steps the Student Health Clinic (SHC) is to take for each emergency.
2. Additional Information:
   1. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:
      1. Unconsciousness, unresponsiveness
      2. Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or choking
      3. Profuse or continuous bleeding
      4. Coughing up or vomiting blood
      5. Suicidal or homicidal feelings or ideations
      6. Severe or persistent vomiting
      7. Chest pain 
      8. Upper abdominal pain or pressure 
      9. Change in mental status; unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing 
      10. Head or spine injury
      11. Sudden severe pain anywhere in the body 
      12. Sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision 
      13. Ingestion of a poisonous substance 
      14. Sudden injury like motor vehicle accident, severe burns or smoke inhalation, near drowning, deep or large wound, human or animal bite 
   2. Should anyone witness someone experiencing the symptoms above, immediately call Chattanooga State Police Department at (423) 697-4467 and 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. 
3. Physical injuries and Medical Emergencies Classifications:

   1. Minor: The injured person may self-administer first aid. 

   2. Moderate: A qualified trained employee may administer first aid. The person should then be referred to the appropriate medical provider. The SHC may be a resource for injured persons but is only able to assist to stabilize the patient. The SHC staff are not First Responders, therefore, do not treat students outside of the clinic proper nor do they retrieve and/or transport patients for transition of care.  For that reason, if expert medical care is called for on-campus outside the SHC, it is best to treat the injury or illness as “Severe” and respond as instructed below. 

   3. Severe: Call campus police at (423) 697-4467 immediately. State the nature of the illness or injury, location of the patient, and if an ambulance is needed. CPR, if indicated, should be started by any trained bystander until relieved by emergency response personnel. If you contact 9-1-1 first immediately contact CSPD afterwards so that they can direct/escort EMS to the correct location on campus. 

4. Action steps for emergencies within the SHC Medical clinic:

   1. Identify the patient in distress. 

   2. Situate ill patient in a treatment room. Do not move an injured person unless there is a situation that could cause further injury. If the injured patient cannot be moved, call campus police at (423)697-4467 to activate EMS. 

   3. Alert medical providers of the emergency and patient’s location. 

   4. Bring all emergency equipment into the treatment room.  

   5. Obtain an initial set of vital signs. 

   6. If Oxygen saturation is less than 92%, start oxygen by non-rebreather. 

   7. Control any external bleeding. 

   8. If the patient’s condition deteriorates or if there is no pulse, start CPR.  If EMS has not been activated, call campus police at (423)697-4467 to activate emergency medical response. If you contact 9-1-1 first immediately contact CSPD afterwards so that they can direct/escort EMS to the correct location on campus. 

   9. Give emergency medications as indicated. 

   10. Remain with the patient until emergency medical personnel arrive.  

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New policy submitted to Policy Review Committee on February 28, 2025

Submitted to Policy Review Board on April 11, 2025

Approved by Policy Review Board on May 7, 2025